How you can use this image

 

This image is available to be shared and re-used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives licence (CC BY-NC-ND).

You can reproduce this image for non-commercial purposes and you are not able to change or modify it in any way.

Wherever you reproduce the image you must attribute the original creators (acknowledge the original artist(s) and the person/organisation that took the photograph of the work) and any other rights holders.

Review our guidance pages which explain how you can reuse images, how to credit an image and how to find more images in the public domain or with a Creative Commons licence available.

Download

Buy a print or image licence

You can purchase this reproduction

If you have any products in your basket we recommend that you complete your purchase from Art UK before you leave our site to avoid losing your purchases.

Notes

Add or edit a note on this artwork that only you can see. You can find notes again by going to the ‘Notes’ section of your account.

The seemingly contradictory notions of the wisdom and innocence of the Christ Child are here conveyed through his physical youth combined with his confident pose, twisting to read the holy book open at his feet. His mother reads over his shoulder, confirming her role as the Mother of Wisdom, and foretelling the Passion of Christ by her sorrowful expression. Both clasp the stem of a columbine, the shape of which was thought to resemble doves in flight, and was thus seen as a symbol of the Holy Ghost. The composition is typical of Luini’s contemplative, elegant style, and exists in numerous versions. The execution of the present picture, however, is not of prime quality. It was attributed to Leonardo da Vinci when bought by the 4th Marquess of Hertford for the substantial sum of 83,500 francs (about £3,340).

The Wallace Collection

London

Title

The Virgin and Child with a Columbine

Date

c.1520–1530

Medium

oil on poplar panel

Measurements

H 73.4 x W 55.2 cm

Accession number

P10

Acquisition method

acquired by Richard Seymour-Conway, 4th Marquess of Hertford, 1865; bequeathed to the nation by Lady Wallace, 1897

Work type

Painting

Tags

See a tag that’s incorrect or offensive? Challenge it and notify Art UK.

Help improve Art UK. Tag artworks and verify existing tags by joining the Tagger community.

The Wallace Collection

Hertford House, Manchester Square, London, Greater London W1U 3BN England

This venue is open to the public. Not all artworks are on display. If you want to see a particular artwork, please contact the venue.
View venue