The Virgin nursing the Christ Child

This tondo belongs to a group of late fifteenth and early sixteenth century interpretations of the Virgin and Child by the so-called Master of Flémalle (Städel Museum, Frankfurt, inv. no. 939). These versions have slight variations in inscriptions, orientation, and backgrounds.The Flémalle-Virgin in Frankfurt is among the oldest interpretations by an eminent painter of the Flemish Ars Nova of an ancient Byzantine icon known as the Panagia Galaktotrophousa (or Virgo Lactans).

We are grateful to Till-Holger Borchert whom, on the basis of digital images, dates the present tondo to circa 1500.