Madonna and Child in a Niche

By Antonio del Ceraiolo, c. 1520s
JPG • 2491 × 3400 PX • 1.6 MB
Curatorial Notes

This image of Madonna with the Christ Child on her lap has been extensively altered by restoration. During the Renaissance, it was important that the Christ Child's genitalia be exposed, for it declared that Christ is the humanization of God, that he experienced temptation, and that in his exposure, he was without shame. When it was repainted, a cloth was added to the image to cover the Christ Child's genitalia. In 1941 the removal of old overpaint returned the painting more closely to its original state.

Artwork Identification

Title Madonna and Child in a Niche
Title (PT) Madona com o Menino em um Nicho
Title (ES) Virgen con el Niño en una Hornacina
Artist Antonio del Ceraiolo
Artist Bio Antonio del Ceraiolo (Italian)
Date c. 1520s
Work Type Painting

Location & Collection

License Creative Commons Public Domain Mark 1.0
Ars Sancta