Simon MARMION?
French-Flemish active c.1425-1489
The Virgin and Child
c. 1465-75
oil on wood panel
38.1 x 28.0 cm
Felton Bequest 1954
3079-4

Although, the composition and atmospheric treatment of landscape strongly reflect the style of Marmion, some scholars think that this painting can no longer be attributed to him.
It is, however, an excellent example of how the Madonna and Child subject was treated by Netherlandish artists during the mid fifteenth-century.These images were very popular and workshops of masters such as Marmion and Roger van der Weyden produced many high quality paintings of this type.

The fine detail and rich colouring reflect the influence of illuminated manuscripts and book illustration, yet the larger format has allowed the artist to create a landscape of great beauty and subtlety.

Portraying the Madonna with her hands clasped in prayer while nursing the Christ Child is a traditional way of showing the pair. However, the artist has given an emotional intensity to their relationship, indicated by her solemn gaze and the natural restlessness of the child. Giving humanistic qualities to typically symbolic imagery was associated more with Marmion than any other artist of the time. The technical excellence and strong emotional content indicates that the painting came from his circle.

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