Madonna and Child (Artemisia Gentileschi)

Madonna and Child is an early painting by the baroque painter Artemisia Gentileschi. It was painted around 1613, when Artemisia was around 20 years old. It currently hangs in the Galleria Spada in Rome. [1]

Madonna and Child, c.1613, Artemisia Gentileschi, Galleria Spada, Rome

Description

The Virgin Mary is depicted sitting on a plain wooden chair, about to nurse her son, as he turns and caresses her face with his left hand. Mary's figure fills the canvas, bringing her close to the viewer, while the Christ child with tousled blonde hair appears to have been modeled on that of a real child.

History

The painting had been attributed to a series of Italian artists until 1992, when archival research uncovered an inventory record from 1637 which brought its history to light. The document records the transfer of art works from the Alessandro Biffi to the Veralli family, one member of which, Marchesa Maria Veralli, married Orazio Spada.[2] That transaction also included Saint Cecilia playing the Lute, also by Artemisia.[2]

References
  1. Locker, Jesse M. (2015). Artemisia Gentileschi: The Language of Painting. New Haven, Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300185119.
  2. Whitlum-Cooper, Francesca (2020). Treves, Letizia (ed.). Artemisia. London: The National Gallery Company Ltd.
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