The Virgin

This composition of Christ as the Salvator Mundi (‘Saviour of the World’) adored by his mother, the Virgin Mary, was very popular in the early sixteenth century. These are workshop copies of originals painted by Quinten Massys towards the beginning of his career.

Christ and The Virgin were evidently painted by assistants who were skilled practitioners of Massys‘ style. His workshop continued to produce further versions over a long period, as did other artists, such as Joos van Cleve. Although these two panels have always been regarded as a diptych, they were not actually made to go together. Their supports differ in many ways, and the panel showing the Virgin has been cut down while that showing Christ retains its unpainted edges. The Virgin probably came from the stock in Massys’ workshop and was cut down to be paired with the painting of Christ. They were probably painted between approximately 1510 and 1525.

The gilding is modern. Small areas of the original background are visible to the left of the Virgin’s right eye and under her hair: it is gilded and ornamented with dots of red lake pigment.