Artwork

The Virgin Mary and Child, the Infant St.John and two angels

The Virgin Mary and Child, the Infant St.John and two angels, by Melchior Lorck, unspecified, 1552
The Virgin Mary and Child, the Infant St.John and two angels, by Melchior Lorck, unspecified, 1552

The Virgin Mary and Child, the Infant St.John and two angels is an unspecified painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Melchior Lorck. It dates from 1552 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. The Virgin Mary and Child, the Infant St.

About this work

Overview

The Virgin Mary and Child, the Infant St. John and two angels is a 1552 painting by Melchior Lorck, a Danish-German artist active during the Northern Renaissance.

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child, accompanied by the infant Saint John and two angels. The scene is imbued with symbolism, as the book and scroll held by the angels may allude to the future roles of the children.

Technique & Style

The work is characterized by a calm and serene atmosphere, with the figures set against a backdrop of a red curtain, dark building, and trees. The facial expressions of the figures convey a sense of curiosity and tranquility.

History & Provenance

The painting is part of the collection at Statens Museum for Kunst. Lorck is notable for being the first Danish artist with a reconstructable biography and a significant body of attributable works.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Melchior Lorck

Artist

Melchior Lorck

Melchior Lorck (also Lorch, Lorichs and Lorich; 1526/27 – 1583) was a Renaissance painter, draughtsman, and printmaker of Danish-German origin.