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Notes
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This painting of the Virgin Mary with the infant Christ was probably made for private devotion. Seated on a cushion, its thick tassels protruding from beneath the folds of her draperies, the Virgin is about to breastfeed her child. The flowers in the vase on the right are pinks, called Nelke (‘nailflowers’) in German, and refer to Christ’s crucifixion. The delicate columbine on the left – the long-stemmed plant with bell-shaped flowers – was associated with the Virgin Mary as well as the Holy Ghost, often depicted as a dove (columba means ‘dove’ in Latin). Infrared photographs reveal a detailed underdrawing. The areas of shadow in the Virgin’s drapery and on the tiles are indicated with minute parallel strokes (called hatching), sometimes crossed over to make it appear even denser (cross-hatching).
Title
The Virgin and Child with Musical Angels
Date
about 1485-1500
Medium
Oil on oak
Measurements
H 52 x W 38 cm
Accession number
NG6499
Acquisition method
Bought, 1985
Work type
Painting