Who painted The Virgin and Child with the Cat and Snake?

The Virgin and Child with the Cat and Snake was painted by Rembrandt in 1654.

Where can I see The Virgin and Child with the Cat and Snake?

The Virgin and Child with the Cat and Snake is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Virgin and Child with the Cat and Snake?

The Virgin and Child with the Cat and Snake is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

The Virgin and Child with the Cat and Snake

Rembrandt , 1654

The Virgin and Child with the Cat and Snake is an ink print by the Baroque artist Rembrandt. It dates from 1654 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Rembrandt van Rijn produced this religious print in 1654, depicting the Virgin Mary with the infant Jesus. Executed as an etching, the work presents a modest interior where the figures sit on a bench, accompanied by a cat and a snake at their feet.

Subject & Meaning

The composition combines traditional Christian iconography with domestic details. The presence of the cat and the snake introduces symbolic contrasts—peace and danger—while emphasizing the protective role of the mother and the vulnerability of the child.

Technique & Style

Rembrandt employed the intaglio process, incising lines directly into a copper plate to achieve deep, velvety blacks. The drawing-like quality arises from layered, uneven strokes that give the scene a textured, almost sketchy appearance.

History & Provenance

Created in the mid‑seventeenth century, the etching reflects Rembrandt’s mature period of printmaking. It has been catalogued among his religious series and is held in several major museum collections, though specific ownership details vary.

Context

During the 1650s Rembrandt explored intimate biblical subjects, moving away from grandiose narratives toward quieter, domestic moments. This work aligns with that trend, integrating everyday elements to humanize sacred figures.

Artist & collection

Artist

Rembrandt

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (15 July 1606 – 4 October 1669), known mononymously as Rembrandt, was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker, and draughtsman.