The Virgin and Child with an Angel

Andrea Mantegna

Summary

A reproduction produced by the Vasari Society of a drawing by Andrea Mantegna. The drawing shows a Madonna and Child scene with the Virgin Marry sitting on a throne and an angel at her feet in the lower right corner. The Virgin Mary is holding the Christ child to the right and is looking out to the right beyond the boundaries of the picture plane. The Christ child is standing on her knee and has his right hand raised in the gesture of a blessing. Both figures have a small halo behind their heads. The Virgin Mary is wearing a veil and has a cape wrapped around her shoulders. Her dress is made from thick drapery. The throne is set on a small step, on the front of which a circle is carved. The angel takes the form of a young girl and is sitting with her feet out in front of her, facing towards the left. Feathery wings protrude from her back. Text in the accompanying booklet produced by the Vasari Society: "No. 6 ANDREA MANTEGNA (b. 1431; d. 1506) THE VIRGIN AND CHILD WITH AN ANGEL British Museum, 1858-7-24-3. Pen and bistre. 19.6 x 14.0 cm (7 3/4 x 5 1/2 in.). One of the very rare authentic drawings by Mantegna, probably belonging to the period of the frescoes in the Camera degli Spozi, Mantua (i.e. about 1474). It shows the same simple scheme of parallel shading, with lighter return strokes laid at a slight angle between the principle lines, which the master also followed in his original engravings. A.M.H."