Madonna and Child,
oil on copper laid down on panel, 39.5 x 31 cm, framed

In the present composition the influence of Francisco de Zurbaran’s (1598–1664) ecstatic religiosity is apparent. The position and the faces of the figures relate to models by Zurbaran such as the Madonna and Child in the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow (inv. no. 200) and the Madonna and Child with the Infant Saint John in the Fine Arts Museum, Bilbao (inv. no. 69/249).

The Bolognese classicism permeated into seventeenth-century Spanish art with the influence of Guido Reni (1575–1642) This is also evident in the case of the present painting’s colouring and delicate rendering, as well as the inclusion of classical architectural elements such as the column. In addition to Reni, Jusepe de Ribera (1591–1652) exerted a strong influence on other Spanish artists and helped introduce them to the latest developments in Italian painting.

The present painting depicts the seated Madonna as she holds a restless Christ Child. She is dressed in a red and blue robe with a golden brooch fastened to her garment. The space is undefined and only marked by a column on their left. A strong chiaroscuro marks the faces with a cooler, more delicate colour palette based on mauve, pink, grey, blue and brown hues.