An artwork on Galleree from Cleveland Museum of Art.
About the artwork
Madonna Nursing the Christ Childc. 1670–72
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo
One of the finest of the rare drawings by Murillo, this sheet is a study for <em>Virgin and Child</em>, commissioned for the family chapel of the Marques de Santiago in Madrid and now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Prized today for their dynamism, Murillo’s drawings served the practical purpose of working out the positions of the figures. Here, the artist suggested the tender bond between mother and child with the poignant connection of their gazes. His animated line and zigzag hatching create the feeling of incessant motion while the addition of ink wash creates deep shadows across the forms.
The inscription <em>Morillo</em> on this drawing is not the artist's signature but rather a notation likely made by a 17th-century owner of the drawing.
pen and brown ink and brush and brown wash over red and black chalk, with traces of white; framing lines in pen and brown ink
Sheet: 21.4 x 15.4 cm (8 7/16 x 6 1/16 in.); Secondary Support: 24.1 x 18.5 cm (9 1/2 x 7 5/16 in.)
Mr. and Mrs. Charles G. Prasse Collection
In the quiet corners of the art world, where stories linger like the scent of oil paints, one exquisite drawing by the renowned artist Murillo captures a moment that seems both timeless and tender. Nestled among the pages of history, this rare piece served as a study for the celebrated painting, *Virgin and Child*, a work originally commissioned for the family chapel of the Marques de Santiago in Madrid. Today, this masterpiece finds its home in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it continues to enchant all who gaze upon it.
As the viewer approaches, the drawing seems to breathe, inviting them into a world where a mother and her child exist in a harmonious embrace. The lines, animated and full of life, weave together a narrative that speaks not just of art, but of the profound bond shared between parent and child. Murillo skillfully captures the intimate connection of their gazes—those two sets of eyes locked in a silent conversation that transcends time and language.
With each stroke, his hand dances across the paper, creating a sense of movement that echoes the ebb and flow of love itself. The zigzag hatching invites the eye to wander, illustrating the dynamic relationship between the figures. Ink wash furthers this enchantment, casting deep shadows that lend depth and texture, as if the very air around them is alive with emotion.
In this small drawing, Murillo encapsulates a universe of feeling—offering a glimpse into the heart of a mother, poised in tenderness, and the innocent gaze of her child, wrapped in her warmth. It is a reminder that even in the stillness of a drawn line, stories can unfold and resonate, echoing through time like whispers in a serene gallery, waiting to be discovered anew.
About the artist
Creating transformative experiences through art “for the benefit of all the people forever.”The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 66,500 artworks and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. The artworks shared on this platform are sourced from the museum's Open Access data under the CC0 license. No endorsement is implied.Address: 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH, USA 44106
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