Madonna and Child 1525

Lucas Cranach the Elder's *Madonna and Child* (1525) depicts the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus, who reaches for a bunch of grapes hanging from a trellis. The painting's lush landscape, with a distant mountain range and a winding river, is characteristic of Cranach's style, which often combined religious subjects with naturalistic detail. The grapes are a symbol of the Eucharist and the blood of Christ. Cranach's masterful use of color and light create a sense of serenity and devotion, making this painting a popular and enduring example of Northern Renaissance art.