Museum Quality Renaissance Masterpiece Virgin Mary & Infant Christ painting

The Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus Italian 1700 – 1799 oil on copper, in tabernacle frame Overall framed: 19 x 17 inches Actual copper panel: 14.25 x 11 inches Provenance: private collection, France This painting is likely an early example of religious iconography from the late Byzantine period or the early Italian Renaissance, created by an artist influenced by the Byzantine tradition. It dates to the 1700 – 1799. It embodies the devotional and spiritual themes typical of icons used in both liturgical settings and private devotion. The gold background and the stylized, almost otherworldly depiction of the figures are hallmarks of Byzantine iconography, which greatly influenced medieval and early Renaissance art in Europe. The use of more naturalistic forms and a slight attempt at depth, even within the confines of iconographic tradition, suggests a period of transition into the early Renaissance.