With Christmas in a few days I have been thinking a lot about Christ. Here is a collection of Mary and Jesus paintings and statues from the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
This is one of my favorite genres in art and am drawn to it in all the museums I visit.
Virgin and Child
Pyrenees, c. 1125
walnut with traces of polychomy
The Virgin is seated with the Christ Child on her lap. Here she is more than merely the mother of Jesus, she is the symbolic throne on which the Child sits, the incarnation of divine wisdom.
Virgin and Child
Ile-de-France, c 1340
Italian marble with traces of gilding
The most precious monumental French Mosan sculptures were made from imported Italian marble, such as this fine example. Mary holds a lily in her right had as a symbol of her virginity.
One of the most interesting things about the Madonna and Child is that the artist often portrays Christ as an adult man in a little body being held by his mother, Mary. I much prefer when the Christ figure is a child.
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Madonna of Humility
Fra Angelico, Florence, c, 1440
Tempera on panel
Virgin and Child
Giovanni Rustici, Florence, c 1500-1525
Terracotta with old polychromy
Here are a few adoration paintings and one with the whole holy family, still with Mary holding the Christ child on her lap.
The Adoration of the Christ Child
Cosimo Rosselli, Florence, C. 1485-1507
oil on panel
Adoration of the Magi
Geertgen tot Sint Jans, Haarlem, c. 1480
oil on panel
Holy Kinship
Geertgen tot Sint-Jans painted Holy Kinship in 1495. This was originally part of an altarpiece. The painting is depicting the extended family of Christ. I got close ups of Mary and Christ and Elizabeth and John. Also shown in the painting are Saint Anne and Joachim, the parents of Mary. In addition to the family members some of the apostles are also in the painting.
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For all those that are celebrating Christmas, Merry Christmas! May we all have more peace and love this coming year.
Sources:
Much of the information is from the pictures taken of the plaques at Rijksmuseum.
Madonna of Humility
Holy Kinship
For that want to see more of the Rijksmuseum here are some of the posts I did from my trip in September.
Art Talk: Rembrandt at the Rijksmuseum
Art Talk: Rijksmuseum and Gothic Architecture
Art Talk: Gallery of Honor Tour at the Rijksmuseum
Art Talk: The BEST OF TOUR at the Rijksmuseum
Share Our World: Rijksmuseum Garden
Art Talk Series Highlights
2022
Theme: Artists
Art Talk: Artists Highlighted in 2022
Art Talk: Rotraut
Art Talk: Rembrandt in Amsterdam
Art Talk: Barbara Hepworth
Art Talk: Frank Lloyd Wright
Art Talk: Yoyoi Kusama
Art Talk: Heloise Crista
Art Talk: Chihuly on Paper
Art Talk: Etel Adnan
Art Talk: Vasily Kandinsky
Other
Art Talk: Stained Glass Windows at the National Cathedral
ICM at the DBG
Art Talk: 2021 Posts
Art Talk: 2020 Posts
Art Talk: 2019 Posts
Art Talk: 2018 Posts