The Virgin and Child with a Pomegranate

Image credit: The National Gallery, London

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The Virgin Mary stands with her infant son, Christ, in the corner of a large but sparsely decorated room. He is balanced on a small table, the only piece of furniture, but is dangerously close to its edge; a closed book further restricts the space available to him. The Virgin uses both hands to support his left leg as he leans forward. His translucent robe hardly provides protection.

Seeds of a pomegranate trickle out of Christ’s raised hand, evoking the beads of a rosary, the devotional aid often used for prayer. This resemblance may be intentional, as the painting is likely to have been made for private worship. The workshop of the Florentine painter Sandro Botticelli specialised in the production of such paintings, which frequently decorated people’s homes.

The National Gallery, London

London

Title

The Virgin and Child with a Pomegranate

Date

probably about 1480-1500

Medium

Tempera on wood

Measurements

H 67.9 x W 52.7 cm

Accession number

NG2906

Acquisition method

Bequeathed by Lady Lindsay, 1912

Work type

Painting

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The National Gallery, London

Trafalgar Square, London, Greater London WC2N 5DN England

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