Madonna and Child
probably 1440s
Medium
Tempera on wood, gold ground
Dimensions
Overall, with arched top, 34 1/2 x 25 in. (87.6 x 63.5 cm); painted surface 30 1/2 x 21 3/4 in. (77.5 x 55.2 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Department
European Paintings
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Irma N. Straus, 1959
Accession Number
59.187
Tags
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the European Paintings gallery, Jacopo Bellini's *Madonna and Child* ( 1440s) captivates with its intimate portrayal of the Virgin Mary cradling the infant Christ. Crafted in tempera on wood with a shimmering gold ground, this arched panel measures 34½ x 25 inches overall, its painted surface a refined 30½ x 21¾ inches. The medium—egg-based tempera applied in thin, translucent layers—allowed for exquisite detail and vibrant color, while the gold leaf evokes heavenly radiance, a hallmark of Italian devotional art. Jacopo Bellini, a pioneering Venetian painter (c. 1400–1470), bridged...