Artwork

Madonna and Child

Madonna and Child, by German 15th Century, ink, 1470
Madonna and Child, by German 15th Century, ink, 1470

Madonna and Child is an ink print by the Renaissance artist German 15th Century. It dates from 1470 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

You might also want to look at other works by German 15th Century artists.

This painting shows a woman and a baby. The woman is wearing a long dress and a crown. She's holding the baby in her arms. The baby is wearing a robe. There are two people on either side of the woman. They're also wearing robes. The background is gold.

The woman and the baby are the main focus of the painting. The people on either side are looking at them. The woman is looking down at the baby. The baby is looking up at her. The painting is very colorful. The gold background makes it stand out.

This painting is an example of Renaissance art. You might also want to look at other works by German 15th Century artists.

Overview

The Madonna and Child is a hand-colored engraving on a gold background, created using a combination of printmaking techniques and painting.

Subject & Meaning

The engraving depicts the Virgin Mary, crowned and dressed in a long garment, holding the Christ child, who wears a robe. Two attendant figures in robes flank the central pair, gazing at them. The Virgin's downward gaze meets the child's upward glance, creating a tender interaction.

Technique & Style

The work is characterized by its use of vibrant colors, including green, yellow, red, and blue, applied by hand over the engraved design. The gold background adds to the overall visual impact, exemplifying a style typical of 15th-century German art.

Context

This engraving is a representative example of Renaissance art in Germany during the 15th century, a period marked by significant artistic innovation and the emergence of new techniques in printmaking.

Artist & collection

Portrait of German 15th Century

Artist

German 15th Century

This 15th-century German artist carved vivid religious scenes into metal and wood, then hand-painted them in bright, symbolic colors.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.