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Francesco d'Antonio di Bartolomeo, 'The Virgin and Child with Six Angels and Two Cherubim', about 1440-50

About the work

Overview

This is a very unusual depiction of the Virgin Mary. She is shown standing, with eyes trained towards the viewer, the Christ Child perched in the crook of her arm. Her attire is exceptionally sumptuous and, as with the garments of the surrounding angels, it reflects contemporary Florentine fashions.

This type of costume would have looked out of place on an altarpiece, but it’s possible that the painting was made for someone who would have placed it in their bedroom to worship privately. These sorts of private images of the Virgin and Child were often made for women – in this case, perhaps a very wealthy woman who would have been able to identify more closely with the Virgin if she resembled one of her contemporaries. There is some evidence that images like this were given as wedding gifts.

Key facts

Details

Full title
The Virgin and Child with Six Angels and Two Cherubim
Artist dates
born 1393; last documented 1452
Date made
about 1440-50
Medium and support
egg tempera on wood
Dimensions
113.4 × 65 cm
Acquisition credit
Presented by J. P. Heseltine, 1895
Inventory number
NG1456
Location
Not on display
Collection
Main Collection
Previous owners

About this record

If you know more about this painting or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the National Gallery Library.

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