The artwork titled “Virgin and Child” is a religious painting by Andrea Mantegna, created between the years 1478 and 1490. It belongs to the Early Renaissance art movement and exemplifies the genre of religious painting.
The artwork presents a detailed depiction of the Virgin Mary holding the Child Jesus. The figures are rendered with meticulous attention to detail, characteristic of Mantegna’s style. The Virgin is seated on an ornately decorated throne, holding the young Christ who stands upright on her lap. Noteworthy is the inclusion of a smaller figure, possibly an angel, positioned at the lower right-hand side, gazing upwards towards the Virgin and Child with an expression of reverence. The composition is executed primarily in a monochromatic palette, suggestive of a preparatory sketch or drawing, with intricate cross-hatching techniques employed to convey depth and texture. The halos around the heads of the Virgin and Child emphasize their sanctity, aligning with the devotional nature of the subject matter.
