The Madonna nursing the Christ Child

The Carracci family of painters, comprising Annibale, Agostino and their cousin Ludovico, are immensely important in art history. In the late 16^th century they represented a backlash against the artifice and perceived frivolity of Mannerism. Based in Bologna, they established the Accademia di Incamminati (Academy of the Journeying) to restore art to its right path, following the role model of Raphael.

There are no distractions from the central subject matter in Agostino's beautiful chalk drawing of the Madonna nursing the Christ Child. The emphasis on breastfeeding – occupying the very centre of the composition – is noteworthy. Whereas Protestantism suppressed the cult of the Madonna, the Catholic ‘Mother Church’ sought to humanise and celebrate her at the same time.

Previously titled The Virgin and Child, this drawing is connected in subject and composition to the engraving by Francesco Brizio after Agostino  dated 1595, but differs considerably in the respective poses of Mother and Child. The pose of the Child in the drawing here was probably derived from Ludovico Carracci's etching The Virgin nursing the Child, dated 1592.

See: http://blog.tepapa.govt.nz/2014/12/12/christmas-treasures-from-te-papa/

D. Bohlin, Prints and related Drawings by the Carracci Family (Washington, 1979), p. 394, R 28, p. 483, No. 2.

Peter Tomory, Old Master Drawings from the National Collection (Wellington, 1983).

Dr Mark Stocker    Curator, Historical International Art          February 2017