Madonna and Child in a Niche c. 1520
joosvancleve
stadelmuseum
painting, oil-paint
portrait
woman
character portrait
painting
oil-paint
portrait subject
11_renaissance
child
animal portrait
history-painting
italian-renaissance
miniature
"Madonna and Child in a Niche" is a small oil painting by Joos van Cleve, a prominent figure in the Antwerp Renaissance. Created around 1520, the painting depicts the Virgin Mary nursing the infant Jesus. Mary's serene expression and the intimate portrayal of the nursing scene evoke a sense of tenderness and devotion. The rich colors and detailed rendering of the figures and the surrounding architectural niche are characteristic of van Cleve's style, which was influenced by both Italian and Northern European art. Today, the artwork resides at the Städel Museum.
Comments
Like few other artists of his time, Joos van Cleve and his workshop provided the Antwerp art market with high-quality serially produced works. He specialized in paintings of the Virgin and Child, which were executed and assembled by himself, but also independently by workshop assistants drawing on various models approved by him. The infrared image of the painting shows the preparatory underdrawing beneath the layer of paint. The panel (initially inverted) was first used for a different composition of the Virgin and Child. Lines of dots visible on Mary’s right hand and the Infant’s robe suggest that a perforated cartoon and a sprinkling of pounce were used to transfer the original design accurately. Van Cleve’s workshop perfected systematic copying in the interest of a high volume of sales.
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