Lucca Madonna Jan van Eyck (1385/90-1441)

The painting depicts the Virgin Mary breastfeeding the Christ Child, a common subject in Christian art known as the Madonna Lactans or Madonna of Humility. Mary sits on a richly decorated throne, draped in a voluminous red gown that cascades around her. The child, naked, nurses from her breast, his gaze directed upwards towards his mother. The setting appears to be an interior, with a large window to the left featuring stained glass, and on the right, a shelf holding a pitcher and a basin. The overall mood is one of intimacy and quiet devotion, with Marys gentle expression and the childs natural pose conveying a sense of maternal love.

The subtexts in this painting are numerous and deeply symbolic. The red gown of Mary is a traditional color associated with royalty, passion, and martyrdom, linking her to Christs future suffering and her role as Queen of Heaven. The throne elevates her status as Queen of Heaven and Earth, despite the intimate act of breastfeeding. The act of breastfeeding itself is a powerful metaphor for nurturing, sustenance, and the eucharist, symbolizing Christ providing spiritual nourishment to believers. Marys long, flowing hair can be interpreted as a symbol of her purity and connection to the divine.

The window with leaded panes and the objects on the shelf – a pitcher and a basin – also carry symbolic weight. The pitcher, often a symbol of purity or the cleansing power of baptism, and the basin, representing washing and purification, allude to Christs sacrifice and the sacraments of the Church. The fruit (or eggs) on the windowsill could symbolize fertility, abundance, or even the Fall of Man, a narrative that Christs coming redeems. The overall use of rich fabrics and intricate patterns not only showcases wealth and status but also serves to highlight the divine majesty underlying the human portrayal. The painting, therefore, operates on multiple levels, presenting a tender maternal scene that simultaneously conveys profound theological messages about salvation, divine love, and the Church.