Artwork
Head of the Virgin (fragment)
Head of the Virgin (fragment) is an oil painting by the Early Renaissance artist Marco Basaiti. It is held in the collection of the Ashmolean Museum.
About this work
Overview
Head of the Virgin is a fragmentary oil painting by Marco Basaiti, a Venetian artist active during the late 15th and early 16th centuries. The work is now part of the Ashmolean Museum's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a serene woman, likely the Virgin, with a downward gaze. She wears a dark hood framing her face and a simple white cloth around her neck and shoulders.
Technique & Style
The artist employed oil paint to achieve a subtle contrast between the subject's dark hood and the muted red background, characteristic of the early Renaissance style.
History & Provenance
Created during the early Renaissance, the painting is a remnant of a larger work. It is now held at the Ashmolean Museum, alongside other works from the period.
Artist & collection
Artist
Marco Basaiti (c. 1470 – 1530) was a Venetian painter of the Renaissance who worked mainly in Venice and was a contemporary of Giovanni Bellini and Cima da Conegliano. He has been referred to by several names including…
