Virgin and Child by After Sir Peter Paul Rubens

The traditional Christian imagery of the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child has been subtly shifted in this work, moving from elevated and holy, to tender and endearing. In this gentle depiction of motherhood, the maternal bond is suggested through the Virgin Mary’s subtly protective pose, her hands enfolding the infant while he turns in towards her, playfully grasping the edge of her veil. Their unity is further mirrored in their synchronised gaze, the tilt of their heads and the deep golden curls framing each face. Inspired by a work originally created by the Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640), this eighteenth-century artist uses bold colours and fleshy skin tones that still conjure the hallmarks of Rubens, to whom the artist pays homage.

It is in the figures’ naturalism that Rubens’s style is most noticeable. He often drew from life and there is a sense of a portrait in the Virgin Mary’s features, which closely resemble Rubens’s second wife, Helena Fourment (1614-73), whom he often used as his subject. The woman’s comfortable gaze further suggests a familiarity between artist and subject. Rubens’s essence has been transferred into this eighteenth-century copy, making it the ideal subject for a private, devotional painting that carries the message of motherhood, love and protection.