Artwork
The Virgin and Child
The Virgin and Child is a paint painting by Pasqualino di Niccolò. It dates from 1493 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1493, this panel painting by Pasqualino di Niccolò presents a devotional scene of the Virgin Mary with the infant Christ. The work is part of the collection of the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin and exemplifies the religious iconography common to late‑15th‑century Italian art.
Subject & Meaning
Mary is seated on a rocky ledge, clothed in a dark blue mantle over a red robe, while she cradles a barefoot Christ child on her lap. The infant reaches toward a cloth held by his mother, a gesture that underscores the intimate bond and the theological theme of divine humanity.
Technique & Style
The artist employs a subtle chiaroscuro, using gentle contrasts of light and shadow to model the figures’ faces and bodies. Soft illumination highlights the delicate features and the gleaming metal buttons on both figures, while the surrounding sky, rendered with fluffy clouds and distant hills, provides a serene backdrop.
History & Provenance
After its creation in the late 15th century, the painting entered various private collections before being acquired by the Gemäldegalerie, Berlin. Its documented provenance traces a typical path for Italian devotional works, moving from regional patronage to a major European museum where it remains on display.
Artist & collection
