Virgin and Child 1484 - 1490

Hans Memling painted this “Virgin and Child” with oil on wood panel, sometime before his death in 1494. At the time, oil paint was a relatively new medium, prized for its luminosity and the capacity for rendering fine detail. Look closely, and you’ll see that the artist meticulously builds up the image layer by layer. This is especially evident in the Virgin’s face, where subtle gradations of tone create a lifelike effect. The folds of her robe, too, are carefully modeled, lending a sense of volume and depth to the figure. The ornate, gilded frame would have been crafted by a specialist, demonstrating the division of labor that was common practice during the period. Memling’s panel speaks to the premium placed on artistry and materials. It shows a society where the handmade was increasingly valued, and where painting was elevated from craft to fine art.