Madonna and Child with Grapes, c. 1537
Lucas Cranach the Elderexpand_more
Oil on panelexpand_more
Bequest of Miss Tessie Jones in memory of Herschel V. Jonesexpand_more 68.41.4
On View in Gallery 342expand_more
Lucas Cranach the Elder worked in a time of religious upheaval. Martin Luther (a close associate of Cranach) led the Protestant Reformation challenging the Catholic Church, arguing that man could have a direct relationship with God without the need for a priest to intermediate.
Cranach adapted familiar Catholic imagery to the Protestant Reformation. The image of Mary as a half-figure with her son Jesus Christ as a little man standing on her lap is derived from Italian prototypes of the later 1400s. Jesus holds a single grape, which he has picked from a bunch held by his mother. This refers to the belief that bread and wine turn into Christ’s body and blood during Catholic mass, a doctrine shared by Martin Luther but disputed by other reformers.
Details
- Title
- Madonna and Child with Grapes
- Artist Life
- (Saxony), 1472 - 1553
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 68.41.4
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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