477 - Virgin of the Milk – Italian School – mid-17th century

Virgin of the Milk – Italian School – mid-17th century Oil on relined canvas. 90 x 66.5 cm. Unframed. The Virgin Mary holds the Christ Child in her lap while breastfeeding him, following the traditional iconography of the Virgo Lactans. The monumental figures stand out against a dark background that focuses attention on the maternal bond between Mother and Child. The reverse shows the relined canvas.