Comments on: Madonna and Child Visit from Hearst Castle http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/madonna-and-child-visit-from-hearst-castle/ The online magazine of the Getty Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:32:27 +0000 hourly 1 By: Annelisa Stephan http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/madonna-and-child-visit-from-hearst-castle/#comment-131463 Annelisa Stephan Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:44:33 +0000 http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/?p=6653#comment-131463 Hi William -- The paint on the object in the Christ child's hand is partially lost, but Scott Schaefer told me it was very likely a bird (birds serving in Christian art as symbols of the Holy Ghost and the soul). The imagery of the child playing innocently with his pet also stands in contrast to the more sober, knowing expression of the Madonna, who shares with the Christian viewer the knowledge of the child's portentous future. We don't have any information on who commissioned the piece, or whether it was in fact commissioned -- it may have been a work done on spec and bought by a visitor to Duccio's workshop. It seems unlikely that the piece was commissioned by a guild, though, because it was very likely owned by a private individual. That guess is based on its very intimate size, smaller than a sheet of office paper. Hi William — The paint on the object in the Christ child’s hand is partially lost, but Scott Schaefer told me it was very likely a bird (birds serving in Christian art as symbols of the Holy Ghost and the soul). The imagery of the child playing innocently with his pet also stands in contrast to the more sober, knowing expression of the Madonna, who shares with the Christian viewer the knowledge of the child’s portentous future.

We don’t have any information on who commissioned the piece, or whether it was in fact commissioned — it may have been a work done on spec and bought by a visitor to Duccio’s workshop. It seems unlikely that the piece was commissioned by a guild, though, because it was very likely owned by a private individual. That guess is based on its very intimate size, smaller than a sheet of office paper.

]]> By: William http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/madonna-and-child-visit-from-hearst-castle/#comment-131393 William Tue, 20 Dec 2011 18:48:47 +0000 http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/?p=6653#comment-131393 Is that a spool of thread in the Christ child's hand? Was it a commission from a wool merchants guild? Is that a spool of thread in the Christ child’s hand? Was it a commission from a wool merchants guild?

]]>