Madonna and Child,
tempera on panel, 82.5 x 57 cm, framed

Provenance:
Private European collection

The present painting adopts a celebrated composition of Andrea del Verrocchio, after which many sculpted and painted versions were made by his pupils, collaborators and followers. It represents the Madonna in half-length, behind a ledge, supporting the standing infant Christ, who is extending his hand in a gesture of blessing. The Madonna and Child are placed in front of a river landscape, with towns visible on the left and right. In the background to the right, the artist depicted the encounter between Christ and John the Baptist, as described in the apocrypha which contain various legends about Christ’s childhood.

As with similar compositions in the style of Verrochio, the figures are arranged frontally, thereby maintaining the design’s monumentality without having to sacrifice any of its sentiment. It is the slightly inclined head of the Madonna, her gaze full of dignity and elegance, together with the soft touch of her hands over a transparent loincloth, which emphasise the tenderness of the scene. Furthermore, the frontality of the figures enhances their sculptural qualities or rilievo; yet another telling stylistic reference to the composition’s origins.