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Madonna and Child (c. 1655 - 1660)-full by Bartolomé Estebán Murillo
Madonna and Child (c. 1655 - 1660)-full by Bartolomé Estebán Murillo
Madonna and Child (c. 1655 - 1660)-d2 by Bartolomé Estebán Murillo
Madonna and Child (c. 1655 - 1660)-frame by Bartolomé Estebán Murillo
Madonna and Child (c. 1655 - 1660)-d1 by Bartolomé Estebán Murillo

Madonna and Child

Bartolomé Estebán Murillo
Artist Bartolomé Estebán Murillo
Date Unknown
Medium Oil on canvas
Collection Museo del Prado

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Standard Quality
1316 x 1800 pixels · 1.44 MB · JPEG
Premium Quality
702 x 960 pixels · 0.52 MB · JPEG

About the Artist

Bartolomé Estebán Murillo
Bartolomé Estebán Murillo
Spanish (1618–1682)
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, a pivotal figure in the Spanish Baroque movement, was baptized on January 1, 1618, in Seville, and passed away on April 3, 1682. As the youngest of fourteen siblings, Murillo was born into a family with artistic connections, his mother hailing from a lineage of silversmiths and painters. His father, a prosperous barber and surgeon, provided a comfortable upbringing, which included inheriting property rights that afforded Murillo financial stability. Murillo's artistic journey began under the influence of late naturalism, gradually embracing the full Baroque style, with his work occasionally hinting at the Rococo through unique iconographic creations like the Immaculate Conception and the Good Shepherd as a child. A central figure in the Sevillian school, Murillo's influence extended well into the 18th century through his numerous disciples. Unlike his contemporaries, he balanced religious commissions for Seville's churches and private devotion with a sustained interest in genre painting, making him one of Spain's most celebrated artists abroad. His reputation was such that Joachim von Sandrart included a brief, albeit embellished, biography of Murillo in his 1683 work, highlighting Murillo's international acclaim.

Master’s Palette

Madonna and Child (c. 1655 - 1660)-palette by Bartolomé Estebán Murillo

Artwork Story

Bartolomé Esteban Murillo’s “Madonna and Child” captures a tender moment between the Virgin Mary and the infant Jesus, bathed in soft, golden light that seems to radiate from within the painting. The figures are enveloped in rich, flowing drapery, their expressions serene yet deeply human—Mary’s gentle gaze lingers on the child, while Jesus reaches out with playful curiosity. Murillo’s mastery of chiaroscuro lends the scene an almost ethereal quality, blurring the line between the divine and the earthly. The background dissolves into shadow, drawing focus to the intimate connection between mother and son, a theme that resonates across cultures and centuries.

What sets this work apart is Murillo’s ability to infuse religious iconography with warmth and approachability. Unlike the rigid solemnity of earlier Renaissance depictions, his Mary feels alive, her tenderness palpable. The child’s chubby fingers and rosy cheeks evoke a sense of immediacy, as if the viewer has stumbled upon a private moment. Details like the delicate embroidery on Mary’s veil or the way light catches the folds of her blue mantle reveal the artist’s meticulous attention to texture. Painted during Spain’s Baroque period, the piece reflects both Murillo’s devout faith and his skill in rendering humanity with profound empathy.

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