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Possibly Netherlandish

Madonna and Child with Saint Barbara and Saint Catherine, ca. 1525

Now On View

Description

Maker

Culture

Possibly

Title

Madonna and Child with Saint Barbara and Saint Catherine

Year

ca. 1525

Medium

Oil on panel

Materials/Techniques

Materials

Supports

Dimensions

91.4 x 87 cm (36 x 34 1/4 inches)

Type

Credit

Museum Works of Art Fund

Object Number

58.196

Projects & Publications

Publications

Exhibition History

Exhibition History

European Galleries

This intimate gathering around the infant Jesus and his mother, Mary, is known as a “sacred conversation.” In attendance are martyr-saints Barbara of Hungary (holding a book and seated before a tower) and Catherine of Alexandria (represented by a sword and spiked wheel). An angel offers a bowl of figs, referencing Mary as the new Eve.

Variations of this composition were painted by a circle of Italian and northern European artists influenced by Leonardo da Vinci’s work. Here the refined painting technique, brilliant rendering of textiles, and Dutch words embroidered on the hem of Catherine’s robe suggest a Netherlandish artist and patron.

Use

The images on this website can enable discovery and collaboration and support new scholarship, and we encourage their use. This object is in the public domain (CC0 1.0). This object is Madonna and Child with Saint Barbara and Saint Catherine with the accession number of 58.196. To request high-resolution files or new photography, please send an email to imagerequest@risd.edu and include your name and the object's accession number.