Virgin and Child
- Medium
- tempera on wood
- Dimensions
- Framed: 79.5 x 64 x 5.5 cm (31 5/16 x 25 3/16 x 2 3/16 in.); Unframed: 69.2 x 55.2 cm (27 1/4 x 21 3/4 in.)
- Genre
- Painting
- Museum
- Cleveland Museum of Art
Tags
Italy, Florence, 15th century
About
In his left hand the Christ Child holds a swallow. Swallows were thought to hibernate during winter in nests of mud. Their re-emergence in spring symbolized the Resurrection of Christ. This painting was probably the central panel of an altarpiece. After the altarpiece was broken up, the work was cut into its present octagonal shape.