Artwork
Mary with the Christ-child and an angel
Mary with the Christ-child and an angel is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Hans Baldung Grien. It dates from 1539 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1539, this oil painting on panel portrays the Virgin Mary nursing the infant Christ, attended by an angel offering a cluster of grapes. Executed in the German Mannerist style of the late Renaissance, the work is part of the collection of the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin.
Subject & Meaning
The central motif shows Mary with flowing red hair and a dark mantle, calmly holding the child who gazes up at her. An angel stands behind them, presenting grapes—a symbolic reference to the future Passion of Christ, linking the act of nourishment with the promise of sacrifice.
Technique & Style
Baldung employs strong chiaroscuro, using a dark background to model the figures in three‑dimensional relief. The contrast of light on the flesh and drapery highlights the intimate interaction, while the elongated forms and refined detail reflect the Mannerist tendency toward elegance over strict naturalism.
History & Provenance
Hans Baldung, a pupil of Albrecht Dürer, produced this work during his mature period, when he was active in both painting and printmaking. The painting entered the Gemäldegalerie’s holdings in the 20th century, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s German Renaissance collection.
Artist & collection
Artist
Hans Baldung (1484 or 1485 – September 1545), called Hans Baldung Grien, (being an early nickname, because of his predilection for the colour green), was a painter, printer, engraver, draftsman, and stained glass…
