Virgin and Child
ca. 1485
Medium
Tempera and gold leaf on parchment
Dimensions
5 1/4 x 3 1/4 in. (13.4 x 8.2cm); Miniature: 4 9/16 x 2 3/8 in. (11.6 x 6.1 cm)
Classification
Manuscripts and Illuminations
Culture
French, Lyons
Department
Robert Lehman Collection
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
Accession Number
1975.1.2466
Tags
Art Historical Context
Nestled within the opulent pages of a late medieval manuscript, this exquisite miniature *Virgin and Child* (ca. 1485) by the Master of Guillaume captures the tender devotion central to Christian iconography. Created in Lyons, France—a thriving hub for book illumination during the late Gothic period—the artwork depicts the Madonna cradling the Christ Child, a motif that offered spiritual comfort to worshippers. Attributed to this anonymous master, named after a prominent patron's prayer book, it exemplifies the refined style of Lyonnaise illuminators, blending intricate detail with luminous el...