Italian Renaissance School Oil on Canvas Painting - 'The Virgin and Child' / Circle of Bernardino Luini.

Fine and contemplative 16th century oil on canvas painting of ‘The Virgin and Child’ by an artist in the circle of Bernardino Luini (about 1480 - 1532)

Created during the peak of the High Renaissance in northern Italy, this work dates to the same historical era as the master artist himself. It features the Madonna with characteristic fair skin, elongated delicate features, downcast eyes, and wavy auburn hair which cascades over her shoulders.

A faint golden halo rings her head. She wears a vibrant crimson dress with fine vertical folds, partially covered by a dark blue mantle lined with an orange-gold fabric. Two eight-pointed gold stars are embroidered on her shoulder. Her left hand gently holds a small, dark, leather-bound prayer book close to her torso.

The young Christ Child is depicted on the left and he stands supported by Mary. He gazes towards the right wearing a simple tunic tied at the waist with a rope belt and busting behind his head is a thin radiant halo of light He holds a small red fruit (likely a symbolic apple or pomegranate).which is a symbol representing the fall of humankind, which he is destined to redeem.

During this period devotional images of the Virgin and Child were in incredibly high demand and to satisfy local patrons and buyers, commercial studios and local artists would also produce works after the master. The work we see here is a particularly stylised and richly coloured example.

Bernardino Luini (c. 1475–1532) Luini was a Lombard painter heavily influenced by Leonardo da Vinci, frequently producing works in a similar style. As the most famous Milanese painter of the early 16th century he produced frescos in Milan, and also in Saronno and Lugarno and elsewhere in Lombardy.

Luini was deeply affected by Leonardo da Vinci who was in Milan from 1483. Many of his paintings, like ‘Christ among the Doctors’ and the ‘Virgin and Child with Saint John’ derive from Leonardo compositions. Luini also adopted Leonardo's use of chiroscuro and his facial types.

Provenance: Private collection Norfolk

Higher resolution images on request.

Worldwide shipping available.

Canvas: 76cm x 64cm.

Framed: 96cm x 84cm.

Price: £8000