Who painted Madonna and Saint Bridget?

Madonna and Saint Bridget was painted by German 15th Century in 1490.

Where can I see Madonna and Saint Bridget?

Madonna and Saint Bridget is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Madonna and Saint Bridget?

Madonna and Saint Bridget is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Madonna and Saint Bridget

German 15th Century , 1490

Madonna and Saint Bridget is an ink print by the Renaissance artist German 15th Century. It dates from 1490 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Madonna and Saint Bridget is a hand‑colored woodcut print depicting a modest outdoor tableau. The composition centers on the Virgin holding the infant Christ, flanked by a kneeling male figure pointing toward the child, with a small village and church visible on a distant hill.

Subject & Meaning

The image presents the Virgin Mary with the Christ child, a traditional devotional motif, accompanied by a figure identified as Saint Bridget, whose gesture of pointing underscores the infant’s significance. The background village and church suggest a connection between the holy scene and everyday Christian life.

Technique & Style

Executed as a woodcut, the design relies on bold black outlines that define flat areas of color. After printing, the work was hand‑applied with pigments in blue, yellow, tan, orange and red, a method typical of early religious prints intended for easy replication and distribution.

Context

Woodcut prints of this type were common in the late medieval and early modern periods, serving as affordable devotional images for private worship. The use of vivid hand‑coloring enhanced visual appeal while maintaining the reproducibility that made such prints popular among lay audiences.