Who painted Virgin and Child with Two Angels?

Virgin and Child with Two Angels was painted by Unknown in 1404.

Where can I see Virgin and Child with Two Angels?

Virgin and Child with Two Angels is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Virgin and Child with Two Angels?

Virgin and Child with Two Angels is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Virgin and Child with Two Angels

Unknown , 1404

Virgin and Child with Two Angels is a print by the Renaissance artist Unknown. It dates from 1404 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work is a circular black‑and‑white print depicting a seated woman cradling an infant, flanked by two winged figures.

About this work

Overview

The work is a circular black‑and‑white print depicting a seated woman cradling an infant, flanked by two winged figures. Each angel holds a cloth‑bound bundle, and a decorative border of swirling foliage frames the scene. The composition is rendered entirely in strong linear incisions without any applied colour.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure represents the Virgin Mary, while the child is the infant Jesus. The accompanying angels, positioned symmetrically, serve as attendants, a common motif that emphasizes the sacred nature of the mother‑and‑child duo and underscores themes of divine protection and reverence.

Technique & Style

Executed as a line print, the image relies on bold, continuous strokes to define form and texture. The absence of shading or tonal variation highlights the artist’s reliance on contour and pattern, a practice typical of certain Renaissance printmaking workshops that favored clarity and reproducibility.

Context

Circular, or tondo, formats were popular in Renaissance devotional art, allowing the image to be displayed on altarpieces or private panels. The inclusion of angels with wrapped bundles may reference contemporary iconography linking the Virgin’s role to the delivery of salvation, aligning the piece with broader theological visual traditions of the period.