On-line gallery
- Reference number
- P01417
- Author
- Brueghel “the Elder”, Jan (Flemish), Procaccini, Giulio Cesare (Italian)
- Title
- Garland with the Virgin, the Christ Child and two Angels
- Chronology
- Ca. 1620
- Technique
- Support
- Measures
- 48 cm x 36 cm
- School
- Theme
- Shown
- No
- Entrance
- COLECCION REAL
- Procedence
- Royal Collection
Mary holds the Christ Child in one
arm, holding one of his feet with
the other. Behind them, two angels
look on. One looks at the viewer in
a request for silence and
reflection upon the image. The
scene is framed by an abundant
garland of flowers.
This work is the result of a
collaboration between Jan Brueghel,
who made one of his most exuberant
floral works, and Giulio Cesare
Procaccini. It was probably
commissioned by one of the most
important patrons of both artists
—Cardinal Federico Borromeo, the
Cardinal-Archbishop of Milan— while
they were in his employ. It shows
the capacity to merge Flemish and
Italian motives and themes.
In the North, garlands framing
representations of the Virgin Mary
were a forceful answer to
Protestant ideas, which rejected
the worship of images.
