12 Inches High x 8 Inches Wide

The Madonna is seated on a bench, holding the baby Jesus on her lap. He grasps at her robes, and she leans over and brings her face close to his. There are at least two original marble sculptures in existence from which the relief in our collection may be derived. Similar depictions of the Madonna and Child in relief were produced widely during the Italian Renaissance, including by the Florentine sculptors Donatello (c.1386-1466) and Desiderio da Settignano (c.1429-1464) and their workshops. The existing reliefs may be based on a lost work by Donatello, but they are attributed to da Settignano and his workshop. Da Settignano was a master at portraying the faces of women and children in his sculptures, .

Artist: Attributed to Desiderio da Settignano and workshop

Museum: Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Time Period: Renaissance, c. 1460

1911 Catalog ID # - 9605

Sources:

"Virgin and Child." Museum number A.3&A-1968. Victoria and Albert Museum, .

"Virgin and Child." Museum number A.84-1927. Victoria and Albert Museum, .