Reblogged
Virgin and Child, Pietro Lombardo , c. 1475-1485, Cleveland Museum of Art: European Painting and Sculpture
In the later 1400s, artists increasingly infused sacred subject matter with a classical vocabulary. The shallow relief and simplified forms ultimately stemmed from ancient sculpture, bringing gravity as well as novelty to a conventional theme. Yet naturalistic elements such as the baby’s bulging navel, chubby wrists, and shirt pulled up to reveal his genitals all humanize Christ, a critical principle of Christian dogma. Size: Overall: 54.6 x 37.2 x 9.5 cm (21 ½ x 14 5/8 x 3 ¾ in.) Medium: marble