Hans Holbein the Elder (c. 1465–1524)
»Madonna with Child and an Augustinian Canon as Donor«

c. 1493/1494, Tempera and oil on spruce

Iconographically, this depiction of the Madonna and child in front of a curtain closely relates to a type of image developed in the Netherlands. Remarkable is the close relationship between highly idealised representation, as manifested in the quiet, dignified presence of the Virgin, and a realistic approach to individual detail, which is reflected in the lively movement of the child and the portrait-like features of the saint. The subdued, richly nuanced colouration with its enamel-like, shimmering quality shows the artist to have been an exceptionally adept colourist. [ EW ]