On-line gallery
- Reference number
- P01416
- Author
- Balen, Hendrik van (Flemish); Brueghel “the Elder”, Jan (Flemish)
- Title
- Garland with the Virgin and Child
- Chronology
- Ca. 1621
- Technique
- Support
- Measures
- 48 cm x 41 cm
- School
- Theme
- Shown
- No
- Entrance
- COLECCION REAL
- Procedence
- Royal Collection
An elaborate garland of flowers,
fruit and animals frames a painting
representing the Virgin Mary with
the Christ Chile on her right arm
and a crown of flowers in her left
hand.
Paintings of the Virgin framed with
garlands were prized in the Flemish
world, where they served as a
response to the Protestant Reform
that negated the validity of
representations of the Virgin or of
saints.
Brueghel responded to Catholic
collectors' need for votive images
of Mary, placing her inside
garlands, where he showed his
capacity to depict natural motives.
Thus he joined religious images
with painting that was very
pleasing to the eye.
Hendrick van Balen, Brueghel's
customary collaborator, painted the
figures, basing them on models from
Rubens.
This work was probably sent to
Madrid by the infanta Isabel Clara
Eugenia around 1620-1630, although
there is no clear documentation of
it until 1794, when it hung in
Madrid's Royal Palace.
