Copyright: ©National Gallery, London
The Holy Family
Alternately titled: The Virgin and Child with St. John and Angels
Alternately titled: The Manchester Madonna
Michelangelo
Master of Manchester
1497 (circa)
Physical Description
Medium: egg tempera on wood
Dimensions: 104.5 x 77 cm
Production Description
Production Date: 1497 (circa)
Provenance
Current Location: National Gallery, London
Catalog Number: NG809
Archival History: Purchased by the National Gallery in 1870.
Sources of the Work
Myth: The holy family
Culture: Christian
Electronic Archive Edition: 1
File Name:
op107.rap.xml
Scholarly Commentary
Introduction
The National Gallery succinctly describes the painting: “Christ is seen indicating a passage in the book held by the Virgin which one pair of angels contemplates. The others study a scroll, perhaps given to them by John the Baptist. The book and scroll may carry phrophecies of Christ's future sacrifice. The draperies and the rock plinth are very similar to Michelangelo's earliest sculptures” (National Gallery, London. March 5, 2002. http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk).