Virgin and Child with a Donor

Maker

(Artists)
1500-1599

Title

Virgin and Child with a Donor

Date of Production

c. 1490-1500

Medium

oil on panel

Dimensions

Height: 35.9 cm (left painted surface)
Width: 26.7 cm (left painted surface)

Accession Number

P.1947.LF.250

Mode of Acquisition

Arthur Hamilton Lee, bequest, 1947

Credit

The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)

Location

On display

Keywords






Related Works

Virgin and Child (left hand panel of a diptych) Portrait of a Donor (right hand panel of a diptych)

Label Text

The diptych format - two panels hinged together that open and close like a book - was very popular in the Netherlands. It enabled patrons to express their religious devotion, with their portrait on one side and holy figures on the other. Here, the Christ Child blesses the praying young man. In his other hand, he holds cherries, symbolising the rewards of Heaven.
Although the background landscape continues over the two panels, the figures are separated by a stone ledge and shown in different spaces - one heavenly, the other earthly.

Provenance

Lee Bequest 1947

Exhibition History

Hans Memling - Five centuries of reality and fiction, Groeningemuseum, Bruges, Belgium, 12/08/1994-15/11/1994

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