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Master of the Saint Bartholomew Altarpiece, 'The Virgin and Child with Musical Angels', about 1485-1500

About the work

This painting of the Virgin Mary with the infant Christ was probably made for private devotion. Seated on a cushion, its thick tassels protruding from beneath the folds of her draperies, the Virgin is about to breastfeed her child. The flowers in the vase on the right are pinks, called Nelke (‘nailflowers’) in German, and refer to Christ’s crucifixion. The delicate columbine on the left – the long-stemmed plant with bell-shaped flowers – was associated with the Virgin Mary as well as the Holy Ghost, often depicted as a dove (columba means ‘dove’ in Latin).

Infrared photographs reveal a detailed underdrawing. The areas of shadow in the Virgin’s drapery and on the tiles are indicated with minute parallel strokes (called hatching), sometimes crossed over to make it appear even denser (cross-hatching). The precision and the lack of alterations in the underdrawing suggest it was copied from an existing model in the master’s workshop by one of his assistants.

Key facts

Full title
The Virgin and Child with Musical Angels
Artist
Master of the Saint Bartholomew Altarpiece
Artist dates
active about 1470 to about 1510
Date made
about 1485-1500
Medium and support
oil on wood
Dimensions
52 × 38 cm
Acquisition credit
Bought, 1985
Inventory number
NG6499
Location
Not on display
Collection
Main Collection
Frame
20th-century Replica Frame

About this record

If you know more about this painting or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the National Gallery Library.

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