Artwork
The Virgin and Child
The Virgin and Child is an unspecified painting by the Mannerist artist Marcello Venusti. It dates from 1553 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Marcello Venusti's The Virgin and Child, completed in 1553, is a characteristic example of mid-16th century Mannerist painting. This work portrays the Madonna tenderly breastfeeding the infant Christ, a common and revered subject in religious art of the era. Venusti, an Italian artist active in Rome, created this piece, which is now part of the collection at the Statens Museum for Kunst.
Subject & Meaning
This intimate portrayal of maternal care highlights a popular religious theme, emphasizing the humanity of Christ and Mary's role.
The painting centers on the Virgin Mary, depicted in a flowing robe, seated with the Christ Child on her lap. She holds him to her chest, offering nourishment, while the infant gazes back at her. Several attendant figures surround them, their attention drawn to the sacred child. This intimate portrayal of maternal care highlights a popular religious theme, emphasizing the humanity of Christ and Mary's role.
Context
Marcello Venusti, a painter from the region near Como, established himself within the Roman Mannerist movement during the mid-16th century. He is reputedly a student of Perino del Vaga, a prominent artist of the time. Venusti's oeuvre includes not only original religious compositions but also notable copies, such as his scaled oil rendition of Michelangelo's Last Judgment in the Sistine Chapel.
History & Provenance
This particular depiction of The Virgin and Child, executed by Marcello Venusti in 1553, has found its permanent home within the holdings of the Statens Museum for Kunst. Its inclusion in this public collection allows for the study and appreciation of Venusti's contribution to Italian Mannerist painting.
Artist & collection
Artist
Marcello Venusti (1512 – 15 October 1579) was an Italian Mannerist painter active in Rome in the mid-16th century.
