Madonna and Child

Cenni di Francesco di Ser Cenni, artist

active 1369–1415

Madonna and Child, circa 1410–1415

Where object was made: Florence, Republic of Florence (present-day Italy)

Material/technique: panel; tempera; gold leaf

Dimensions:
Canvas/Support (Height x Width x Depth): 72.4 x 55.3 cm
Canvas/Support (Height x Width x Depth): 28 1/2 x 21 3/4 in
Frame Dimensions (Height x Width x Depth): 35 3/4 x 27 13/16 in

Credit line: Gift from the Samuel H. Kress Study Collection

Accession number: 1960.0046

On display: Kress Gallery

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Label texts

Depictions of the Madonna and Child, or the Virgin Mary with her infant son Jesus, are one of the most common representations in Christian art. In this painting the child’s chubby right hand forms a gesture of benediction, or blessing. His raised thumb, index and middle fingers also symbolize the Trinity. Jesus holds a goldfinch in his left hand. Goldfinches eat the seeds of thistles, and are therefore associated with the crown of thorns he wears during the crucifixion. The brilliant red coloring on the head of goldfinches is also said to represent the drops of blood on Jesus’ pierced brow. In this image, the goldfinch serves as a reminder of this infant’s eventual suffering and death.

Exhibition Label:
"Corpus," Apr-2012, Kate Meyer
Depictions of the Madonna and Child, or the Virgin Mary with her infant son Jesus, are one of the most common representations in Christian art. In this painting the child’s chubby right hand forms a gesture of benediction, or blessing. His raised thumb, index and middle fingers also symbolize the Trinity. Jesus holds a goldfinch in his left hand. Goldfinches eat the seeds of thistles, and are therefore associated with the crown of thorns he wears during the crucifixion. The brilliant red coloring on the head of goldfinches is also said to represent the drops of blood on Jesus’ pierced brow. In this image, the goldfinch serves as a reminder of this infant’s eventual suffering and death.

Label 2009:
In this painting the Christ child holds a goldfinch in his left hand. According to Christian legend, the goldfinch received its red spot when it pulled a thorn from the crown of thorns from Christ’s brow and was splashed with a drop of Christ’s blood. The goldfinch’s presence in this panel is thus prophetic of Christ’s suffering and death.