Joos van Cleve and a collaborator – Virgin and Child Metropolitan Museum: part 2

The composition presents a seated female figure holding an infant, set against a detailed landscape backdrop. The woman is draped in rich fabrics – a blue cloak over a crimson gown – and her head is covered with a delicate white veil that cascades down her shoulders. She gazes tenderly at the child nestled close to her chest, who appears to be sleeping or resting his head upon her arm. A palpable sense of maternal affection emanates from their proximity and the woman’s gentle expression.
The artist has placed an open book on a table before the woman, which she seems to be examining with a contemplative air. The volume is adorned with intricate gold tooling, suggesting its significance – perhaps representing divine knowledge or prophecy. A bowl overflowing with fruit – grapes, oranges, and a lemon – occupies the foreground alongside a goblet containing red liquid, likely wine. These elements introduce symbolic layers; the fruit often signifies abundance and fertility, while the wine could allude to Christ’s blood and sacrifice. The presence of gold coins scattered near the fruit further reinforces themes of wealth and divine grace.
The landscape behind them is rendered with considerable detail. A sprawling vista unfolds, encompassing a town nestled amongst rolling hills, a river winding through the valley, and distant mountains shrouded in mist. This expansive view suggests a connection between the earthly realm and a larger, perhaps heavenly, context. The inclusion of architectural elements – a castle or fortress perched on a hilltop – hints at power, protection, and possibly even a symbolic representation of spiritual authority.
The lighting is carefully orchestrated to highlight key areas: the faces of the mother and child are bathed in soft light, drawing attention to their emotional connection, while the landscape recedes into atmospheric perspective, creating depth and emphasizing the vastness of the scene. The overall effect is one of serene piety combined with a subtle suggestion of worldly concerns – a delicate balance between the sacred and the secular. The painting’s subtexts revolve around themes of motherhood, divine knowledge, abundance, and the intersection of faith and earthly existence.