This virgin and child subtly incorporates traditional allusions to the miraculous. Mary's long, loose hair identifies her as a virgin, alluding to the virgin birth. The palatial column evokes her future reign as queen of heaven, while the nakedness of the christ child, explicitly a little boy, reminds believers that, miraculously, christ was fully human and fully god. Van dyck worked in the antwerp studio of peter paul rubens before spending six years in italy. Once returned, he created a style synthesizing that of flanders and italy, producing dramatic, yet elegant religious works such as this virgin and child, one of several versions; van dyck's touch is most evident here in the virgin's face and hand. He subsequently became court painter to king charles i of england, who raised him to the nobility. Object Type: painting. Genre: religious art. Date: between circa 1630 and circa 1632 (Baroque). Place of creation: London, England, United Kingdom (?). Dimensions: height: 126.1 cm (49.6 in); width: 114.6 cm (45.1 in). Medium: oil on canvas. Depicted People: Virgin Mary, Christ Child. Collection: Walters Art Museum. Anthony van Dyck - Virgin and Child - Walters 37234
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