Virgin and Child with Saints Catherine of Alexandria and Barbara

Memling, Hans (born 1430-1440, died 1494)


Item type:
painting
Date of creation:
1480
Height:
68.3 cm  (26 7/8 in.)
Width:
73.3 cm  (28 7/8 in.)
Technique / Medium:
oil on wood
School:
Netherlandish

Description

In the center the Virgin holding the Child Jesus, surrounded by St. Catherine of Alexandria on the left, depicting her mystical marriage to Christ, and St. Barbara on the right, and two angels; the angel on the left playing portative organ; the angel on the right playing harp; a young man kneels with a rosary on the left.

People as subjects

St. Mary (Blessed Virgin)
Jesus Christ
St. Catherine of Alexandria (ca. 282-ca. 305)
St. Barbara

Iconclass

11F42
Madonna: Mary sitting or enthroned, the Christ-child in her lap (or in front of her bosom) (Mary sometimes represented half-length)
11HH(CATHERINE)
the virgin martyr Catherine of Alexandria; possible attributes: book, crown, emperor Maxentius, palm-branch, ring, sword, wheel
11HH(BARBARA)
the virgin martyr Barbara; possible attributes: book, cannon(ball), crown, cross, chalice with wafer, Dioscuros (her father), peacock feather, sword, torches, mason's tools, tower

Instruments [MIMO Code] (notes)

Portative organ [2267]
Harp [3285]

RIdIM images


Image URLs

image link 1

RIdIM record id

3697