Painting of the Month

Gerard David, 'The Virgin and Child with Saints and Donor', probably 1510
Special Feature: The Enclosed Garden

In an enclosed garden, the Virgin Mary sits on a throne, flanked by three female saints: Catherine, Barbara and Mary Magdalene. The Christ Child resting on her lap places a ring on Saint Catherine's finger, referring to the saint's legendary 'mystic marriage' to Christ. A fourth saint, Anthony Abbot, can just be seen in the distance.

To the left of the painting, at a slight distance from the seated female saints, a man is on his knees, his hands clasped in prayer. His distinctive features and the cantor's staff, prayer book and hat on the floor before him identify him as the donor of the painting, the cantor, or senior cleric of St Donatian's church in Bruges.

It is thought that the painting was made for the church's chapel of Saint Anthony Abbot as part of its restoration. The main action of the picture, the infant Christ offering a ring to Saint Catherine, suggests that it was intended as an altarpiece for the Saint Catherine altar.

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