Virgin and Child

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Virgin and Child
ca. 1520
Giuliano Bugiardini

The Virgin Galaktotrophousa - a representation of Mary nursing the Infant Jesus, widespread in the West from the late Middle Ages - acquired the humanistic properties of a real nursing mother with the advent of the Renaissance. As if the scene were set on a stage, the seated Virgin is portrayed in a left three-quarter view down to her knees, facing the spectator, encircled by an open light green curtain and a dark brown background.