Madonna and Child appearing to a Woman in Bed and a Woman Kneeling c. 16th century

Curator: This is Perino del Vaga's "Madonna and Child appearing to a Woman in Bed and a Woman Kneeling." Editor: The whole composition has a very dreamlike quality. The sepia tones lend a softness to the scene. Curator: Look at the detail del Vaga achieves with what appear to be simple washes and line work, the hatching used to create the folds of the kneeling woman's dress. You can almost feel the weight of the fabric. Editor: It's interesting how the symbols of domesticity – the bed, the carafe, the dog – are juxtaposed with the divine apparition. It emphasizes the Virgin Mary’s accessibility, her presence even in mundane life. Curator: And think about the economics of devotional art. Here is a private, intimate moment, rendered with great skill, likely commissioned for a wealthy patron's personal contemplation. Editor: The artist seems to have carefully considered how to connect the divine and the everyday. I find the image particularly moving. Curator: A fascinating confluence of craft, class, and devotion.