The Madonna of Humility with the Temptation of Eve
Medium
tempera and gold on wood panel
Dimensions
unframed: 181.5 × 88.6 cm · framed: 191.5 × 99 × 11 cm
Classification
Painting
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Holden Collection
Accession Number
1916.795
Tags
male
About this artwork
The Madonna is seated humbly on the ground nursing her child. Saint George and the Archangels Gabriel and Michael kneel nearby, while Christ’s disciples appear radiating from the Madonna’s halo in the form of stars. In contrast with the Virgin’s purity, Eve lies in the lower part of the painting. Coaxed by the serpent, she raises the forbidden fruit to her mouth, thus condemning humankind through her original sin. The juxtaposition of these two images affirms the Incarnation and the role of Chri...