Artwork
Virgin and Child with Saints Dominic and Thomas Aquinas (?)
Virgin and Child with Saints Dominic and Thomas Aquinas (?) is an unspecified painting by the Early Renaissance artist Master of the Borghese Tondo. It dates from 1502 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. Created in 1502, this panel painting presents a devotional scene centered on the Virgin Mary cradling the infant Christ.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1502, this panel painting presents a devotional scene centered on the Virgin Mary cradling the infant Christ. The work is attributed to the anonymous figure known as the Master of the Borghese Tondo and is part of the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
Subject & Meaning
Mary is shown in a green gown beneath a red mantle, holding the Child in a tender pose. Flanking her are two kneeling figures, traditionally identified as Saint Dominic and Saint Thomas Aquinas, each holding symbolic objects—a flower and a book—that allude to their respective spiritual attributes.
Technique & Style
The composition relies on a restrained palette of earth tones, with muted greens, reds, and browns creating a calm atmosphere. Figures are rendered with soft modeling against a dark, indistinct background that hints at foliage, emphasizing the intimate grouping and the spiritual focus of the scene.
History & Provenance
The painting entered the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, through acquisition in the early twentieth century, though earlier ownership records are sparse. Its attribution to the Master of the Borghese Tondo reflects stylistic links to other works produced in the same period in central Italy.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
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