Artwork
Maica Domnului cu Pruncul și Cina cea de taină
Maica Domnului cu Pruncul și Cina cea de taină is an unspecified painting by Petru Prodan. It is held in the collection of the Alba Iulia Unification National Museum.
About this work
Overview
The work titled “Maica Domnului cu Pruncul și Cina cea de taină” presents a vivid tableau in which a woman dressed in red and gold cradles a child on the left side of the composition. Opposite her, a group of figures gathers around a table covered with a white cloth, surrounded by assorted objects. The background blends blue, yellow and green tones, creating a lively setting.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure represents the Mother of God holding the infant Jesus, a traditional religious motif. To her right, the scene of the Last Supper is suggested by the assembled participants and the table setting, linking the themes of divine motherhood and the sacramental meal.
Technique & Style
The painting employs bold outlines and saturated pigments characteristic of folk‑art traditions. Gold leaf or metallic paint accents are applied throughout, highlighting the halo, garments and decorative elements, thereby emphasizing the work’s ceremonial significance. The overall visual language combines flat decorative surfaces with a narrative arrangement.
Context
The piece reflects a synthesis of Orthodox iconography and vernacular artistic practices common in Romanian religious art. Its stylistic affinities can be compared to the oeuvre of artists such as Petru Prodan, who similarly merged folk motifs with sacred subjects.
Artist & collection
Artist
Petru Prodan painted religious scenes in the icon tradition. His works include *Sf. Nicolae* and *Prohodul lui Iisus*, showing saints and biblical figures in gold-leaf settings. The figures are stiff and frontal,…
Museum
Alba Iulia Unification National Museum
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