Virgin and Child

Gerard David Netherlandish
and Simon Bening Netherlandish
ca. 1520
Not on view
Gerard David has taken the Virgin and Child from his Rest on the Flight into Egypt (49.7.21) and placed them in a different context. Joseph is absent, and there is no overt reference to the journey of the Holy Family. Thus, in keeping with a contemporary trend toward the secularization of religious scenes, Mary is presented as the very model of a nurturing mother. A stream of milk flows from her breast to the lips of the Child, who turns toward the viewer and gestures with a spoon, linking physical nourishment with the spiritual nourishment he offers. The serene landscape was probably painted by Simon Bening.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Virgin and Child
  • Artist: Gerard David (Netherlandish, Oudewater ca. 1455–1523 Bruges)
  • Artist: and Simon Bening (Netherlandish, Ghent (?) 1483/84–1561 Bruges)
  • Date: ca. 1520
  • Medium: Oil on wood
  • Dimensions: Overall 10 x 8 1/4 in. (25.4 x 21 cm), with added strip of 3/8 in. (1 cm) at top; painted surface 9 5/8 x 8 1/4 in. (24.4 x 21 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: The Friedsam Collection, Bequest of Michael Friedsam, 1931
  • Object Number: 32.100.53
  • Curatorial Department: European Paintings

More Artwork

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.