Skip to Main Content

Madonna and Child in a Niche

c. 1520s

attributed to Antonio del Ceraiolo

(Italian)
Italy, 16th century
oil on wood
Framed: 87 x 72 x 5.5 cm (34 1/4 x 28 3/8 x 2 3/16 in.); Unframed: 59.5 x 43.9 cm (23 7/16 x 17 5/16 in.)
Holden Collection 1916.813
Location: not on view
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.

Download, Print and Share

Description

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.
Madonna and Child in a Niche

Madonna and Child in a Niche

c. 1520s

Antonio del Ceraiolo

(Italian)
Italy, 16th century

See Also

Visually Similar Artworks

Contact us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@clevelandart.org.

To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.

All images and data available through Open Access can be downloaded for free. For images not available through Open Access, a detail image, or any image with a color bar, request a digital file from Image Services.