How you can use this image
This image can be used for non-commercial research or private study purposes, and other UK exceptions to copyright permitted to users based in the United Kingdom under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised. Any other type of use will need to be cleared with the rights holder(s).
Review the copyright credit lines that are located underneath the image, as these indicate who manages the copyright (©) within the artwork, and the photographic rights within the image.
The collection that owns the artwork may have more information on their own website about permitted uses and image licensing options.
Review our guidance pages which explain how you can reuse images, how to credit an image and how to find images in the public domain or with a Creative Commons licence available.
Buy a print or image licence
You can purchase this reproduction
If you have any products in your basket we recommend that you complete your purchase from Art UK before you leave our site to avoid losing your purchases.
Notes
Add or edit a note on this artwork that only you can see. You can find notes again by going to the ‘Notes’ section of your account.
This small panel painting of the Virgin and Child was, until its theft in the 1970s, one of the earliest pictures in the National Gallery. Probably painted in Tuscany in the thirteenth century, it was inspired by Byzantine (Eastern Christian) painting. The Virgin and Child are shown embracing affectionately, with Christ resting his forehead against his mother’s cheek. This was a very popular motif in Byzantine art, and Byzantine icons were probably widely available in Italy at this time. The faces are highly stylised and draperies are modelled with gold highlights. The letters on either side are Greek and stand for ‘Mother of God’. The picture perhaps once formed part of a diptych – a painting made of two panels which folded together for storage or transportation – made for private devotion.
Title
The Virgin and Child with Two Angels
Date
13th C
Medium
Tempera on wood
Measurements
H 36.5 x W 26.7 cm
Accession number
NG4741
Acquisition method
Presented by W.B. Chamberlin, 1934
Work type
Painting
The National Gallery, London
Trafalgar Square, London, Greater London WC2N 5DN England
-
Scenes from the Lives of the Hermits: Two Incidents in the History of the Hermits Christ Church, University of Oxford -
A Small Altarpiece, with Nine Scenes from the Passion Christ Church, University of Oxford -
Saint Francis Receiving the Stigmata Christ Church, University of Oxford -
The Virgin and Child Seated on a Cushion (The Madonna of Humility) Christ Church, University of Oxford -
Scenes from the Lives of the Hermits: The Death of the Barbarian Slave-Owner, who Pursued the Monk Malchus; and Other Scenes Christ Church, University of Oxford -
Scenes from the Lives of the Hermits: Malchus and His Wife Crossing the River; and Another Scene Christ Church, University of Oxford -
Scenes from the Lives of the Hermits: Abba Macarius Conversing with the Skull; and Other Incidents Christ Church, University of Oxford - 20 more