Virgin And Child Nursing - Oil On Panel - Italian School, 16th Century

A superb oil on panel depicting the Virgin and Child nursing (Madonna lactans), an emblematic theme of the Italian Renaissance.

The composition shows the Virgin Mary in a moment of intimacy and maternal tenderness, nursing the Infant Jesus, a symbol of divine motherhood and universal love.
Mary's face, imbued with gentleness and reverence, stands out against a lightly shaded gold background. The delicate modeling of the flesh tones, the fine rendering of the hands, and the bluish veil edged with gold convey a sensitive hand, imbued with spirituality.

The Child, captured in a realistic gesture, clings to his mother's breast with emotion. This intimacy, rendered with great restraint, evokes the legacy of Leonardo da Vinci's painting in Northern Italy.

Technique: Oil on wood panel (probably poplar)
Dimensions: 44 × 36 cm (with frame)
Period: 16th – early 17th century
School: Italian (probably Lombardy or Tuscany)
Frame: Original oval, molded giltwood, showing cracks and old wear
Condition: Good overall condition, with an old vertical crack in the panel, scaling from use, and a uniform patina; no major damage to the paint layer.

This work belongs to the tradition of the Madonna lactans, very popular in Italian workshops between 1480 and 1550. The softness of the modeling, the refinement of the face, and the balance of the composition are reminiscent of works from the circle of Bernardino Luini (a pupil of Leonardo da Vinci), or the Ferrara school, where feminine grace and subtle chiaroscuro predominate.

The meticulous rendering of the flesh and drapery testifies to solid training and a high-quality workshop.
The iconography of the Virgin nursing the infant Jesus appeared in the Middle Ages and developed during the Renaissance as an intimate expression of faith. It symbolizes both motherhood and the Incarnation.
In the Lombard tradition, this subject takes on a tender and mystical character, marking the fusion of the sacred and the human. Northern Italian School, circa 1550–1600

Packaging: MBE Narbonne,
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