Artwork
Maria mit Kind, von Engeln umgeben (nach Peter Paul Rubens)
Maria mit Kind, von Engeln umgeben (nach Peter Paul Rubens) is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Pieter Thijs. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1650 by the Antwerp painter Pieter Thijs, this oil on canvas presents the Virgin Mary cradling the infant Jesus, encircled by a host of cherubic figures. The composition follows the conventions of Flemish Baroque religious imagery, emphasizing a luminous central group against a darker backdrop. The work is part of the Alte Pinakothek’s holdings.
Subject & Meaning
The central figures—Mary and the Christ Child—embody the intimate bond of mother and son, a theme recurrent in Counter‑Reformation art. The surrounding putti, rendered as small winged youths, amplify the sense of divine celebration, suggesting heavenly approval and the sanctity of the Incarnation.
Technique & Style
Thijs employs a refined palette with soft, glowing flesh tones that contrast against a tenebrous background, a chiaroscuro effect typical of the period. The brushwork is smooth and controlled, recalling the elegant manner of Anthony van Dyck, while the delicate modeling of the angels conveys a sculptural quality within the painted surface.
History & Provenance
Active in 17th‑century Antwerp, Pieter Thijs was known for commissions from courts and ecclesiastical patrons. This particular piece, reflecting his alignment with the Baroque aesthetic, entered the collection of the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, where it remains on display as an example of Flemish devotional painting.
Artist & collection
Artist
Pieter Thijs, Peter Thijs or Pieter Thys (1624 in Antwerp – 1677 in Antwerp) was a Flemish painter of portraits as well as religious and history paintings.
Maria in der Glorie
Maria, die unbefleckt Empfangene (und Werkstatt)
The Virgin Surrounded by Many Angels
Unbefleckte Empfängnis
La Asunción y Coronación de la Virgen
Himmelfahrt Christi
Kroning van Maria
Ascension of Saint Rosalie
Madonna and Child with Souls in Purgatory
The Virgin and Child
Die Himmelfahrt Mariae
Maria mit Kind und den hll. Katharina von Siena, Sebastian, Franziskus, Petronius, Klara und Stifter