Art Minute

Artemisia Gentileschi - Madonna and Child - Oil on canvas, ca. 1609. Spada Gallery, Rome.

While there is speculation on the actually attribution of this painting (Garrad stating it is an actual Artemisia painting based on her fathers, Bissell disputing this claim), if it is indeed Artemisia Gentileshci it shows remarkable ability for an artist at such a young age(speculation is that she was 16 when working on this painting.)

Gentileschi's portrays the holy mother and child in an intimate moment of nurturing. Mary is shown in the process of offering her breast to young son. The Christ Child reaches out to caress his mothers warm face. The scene is touching, and familiar, a beautiful moment between mother and child. Since tomorrow is Mother's Day I thought that this work would be a piece of art that would be a fitting example of motherhood.

Happy Mother's Day