Madonna and Child with Grapes
c. 1537
Lucas Cranach the Elder brings a distinctly Northern Renaissance flair to this intimate portrait, featuring the Virgin Mary with her signature high, plucked forehead and cascading strawberry-blonde hair. She cradles a chubby Christ Child who is busy snacking on a single grape while clutching a massive bunch, a sweet symbol of the Eucharist and future sacrifice. Notice the dramatic, puffy slashed sleeves of her dress and the stark black background that makes the figures pop—a hallmark of Cranach's workshop style that was incredibly popular in 16th-century Germany. The visible cracks across her forehead tell the story of a painting that has survived nearly five centuries of history!
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