Artwork
Maria met kind
Maria met kind is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Master of the Legend of the Magdalene. It dates from 1512 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1512, *Maria met kind* is an oil painting attributed to the anonymous Master of the Legend of the Magdalen, an early Netherlandish artist active around the turn of the 16th century. The work belongs to the Northern Renaissance and is part of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin’s collection. It presents a quiet, intimate scene of a woman and an infant within a framed, golden‑arched setting.
Subject & Meaning
The composition shows a woman, traditionally identified as the Virgin Mary, holding the infant Jesus. She is depicted reading from an open book, while the child gazes toward her, suggesting a moment of contemplation and maternal connection. The serene expressions and gentle interaction emphasize themes of devotion and the human aspect of the holy figures.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on panel, the painting demonstrates the Northern Renaissance’s attention to detail and realism. The artist employs smooth, blended pigments to render the soft flesh of the infant and the subtle folds of the dark‑blue dress and lighter wrap. A delicate play of light and shadow, reminiscent of chiaroscuro, creates a three‑dimensional presence within the golden‑arched background.
History & Provenance
The work has been recorded in the Gemäldegalerie Berlin’s holdings, where it remains on display. Its attribution to the Master of the Legend of the Magdalen reflects scholarly consensus based on stylistic parallels with other works dated between 1483 and 1527, a period during which the anonymous painter was active in the Low Countries.
Context
*Maria met kind* exemplifies the Northern Renaissance’s integration of devotional subjects with domestic intimacy. The painting’s focus on a private, tender moment aligns with contemporary trends that sought to make sacred narratives accessible to viewers through realistic detail and relatable human interaction.
Artist & collection
Artist
Master of the Legend of the Magdalene
The Master of the Legend of the Magdalen (sometimes called the Master of the Magdalen Legend) was an Early Netherlandish painter active from circa 1483 to 1527.
Madonna and Child
Two Wings of a Triptych with the Donor, Thomas Isaacq, accompanied by Saint Thomas (left, outer wing), and the Donor's Wife accompanied by Saint Margaret (right, outer wing)
The Raising of Lazarus
The Holy Family
St. Mary Magdalene hunting before her conversion
Bildnis einer jugendlichen Fürstin
Maria mit dem Kind
Porträt des Karl V. (1500-1558)
