Artwork
Maria mit Kind und musizierenden Engeln (Werkstattkopie)
Maria mit Kind und musizierenden Engeln (Werkstattkopie) is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Jacob Cornelisz van Oostsanen. It dates from 1524 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections. Created in 1524, this oil painting portrays the Virgin Mary cradling the infant Christ while surrounded by six cherubic figures.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1524, this oil painting portrays the Virgin Mary cradling the infant Christ while surrounded by six cherubic figures. The scene unfolds within a shallow niche, where Mary is dressed in a dark garment beneath a vivid red robe, and a basket of grapes rests nearby. The darkened backdrop accentuates the figures, giving the composition a focused, intimate atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
The work presents a conventional devotional motif: the Madonna and Child accompanied by musical angels. The cherubs, some seated and others standing, engage playfully with Mary’s robe and the fruit, suggesting a harmonious blend of the sacred and the earthly. The inclusion of grapes alludes to the Eucharistic symbolism of Christ’s blood.
Technique & Style
Employing chiaroscuro, the artist models the figures with strong contrasts of light and shadow, lending them a three‑dimensional presence against the somber background. The handling of oil paint reveals fine attention to texture, especially in the delicate wings and flowing fabrics, while the composition balances linear arrangement with a subtle sense of depth.
History & Provenance
The painting is attributed to Jacob Cornelisz. van Oostsanen, a prominent painter and woodcut designer active in early‑16th‑century Amsterdam. It reflects the Northern Renaissance style that was developing in the Dutch region as Amsterdam grew into a cultural hub. Today the work belongs to the collection of the Alte Pinakothek in Munich.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jacob Cornelisz van Oostsanen (before 1470 – 1533) was a Northern Netherlandish designer of woodcuts and painter.
