Madonna and Child with an Angel, 1519

Dimensions: 71.8 x 59.9 cm

Physical Description: Canvas

Inventory Number: 1192

Acquisition: Acquired in 1890

Status: Not on display

Texts

About the Work

No Renaissance painting would be complete without its symbol. The Infant Jesus is still sitting on his mother's lap and gazing calmly at the viewer, but the little bird perched on his fingers already points forward to the inescapable course of history. It is a goldfinch, a symbol of the Passion of Christ. A white lily symbolising the purity of the Virgin Mary is held above the child's head by an angel. According to Christian doctrine, this is why the child was free from original sin - as the way the angel is gazing at him makes clear. This portrait of the Madonna is thought to have been the work of the Italian Renaissance painter Cavazzola.

Work Data

Basic Information

Title: Madonna and Child with an Angel

Painter

Cavazzola (Paolo Morando)

Period Produced

16th century

School

Renaissance

Object Type

painting (artwork)

Physical Description: Canvas

Material

canvas

Technique

mixed technique

Label at the Time of Manufacture: Bezeichnet unten links: X/V/IIII

Property and Acquisition

Institution

Städel Museum

Administration

Old Masters 1300 - 1800

Collection

Städelsches Kunstinstitut

Creditline: Städel Museum, Frankfurt am Main

Picture Copyright: Public Domain

Acquisition: Acquired in 1890

Work Content

Motifs and References

Genre

Main Motif

Persons Shown

Iconclass

Primary

11F4222(+3) Mary sitting or enthroned, the Christ-child sitting on her knee (Christ-child to Mary's left) (+ angel(s))
11F715 Christ-child holding something in his hand, e.g. apple, bird, cherries, crucifix, grapes, paper wind-mill ~ Madonna-representations

Secondary