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Amgueddfa Cymru — National Museum Wales

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Madonna and Child with a Pomegranate

Artist: BOTTICELLI, Alessandro (and workshop) (1447-1510)

This painting of the Madonna and Child donated to the Museum by Gwendoline Davies in 1952, has always been something of a mystery. Was it painted by Botticelli, a follower, or by artists in his workshop? Questions still remain, but exciting new evidence suggests the painting did in fact come from Botticelli’s studio, and that he himself was responsible for some of it. Botticelli was one of the principal Florentine painters of the late fifteenth century. This painting is based upon the central figures in his San Barnaba Altarpiece of about 1485, now in the Uffizi Gallery, Florence. The pomegranate held by the Christ Child is a Christian symbol of the Resurrection. The painting featured in the BBC’s Britain’s Lost Masterpieces on 13 November 2019.

Virgin and Child with a Pomegranate
Image: © Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales Download (for personal use only)

Personal Use – images can be used by the person downloading them for research, study or creating learning resources. Images cannot be used for commercial purposes.

For all other uses and formats please contact images@museumwales.ac.uk

What is personal use?

Collection Area

Art

Item Number

NMW A 242

Creation/Production

BOTTICELLI, Alessandro (and workshop)
Role: Artist
Date:

Acquisition

Bequest, 10/4/1952

Measurements

Height: 64.8cm
Width: 41.9cm

Techniques

oil on board
Techniques (fine art)
art dept - fine
Fine Art - painting

Material

oil
board

Location

Gallery 20

Collections Online is updated regularly, but please confirm that a work remains on display before making a special visit.

Categories

Painting Fine Art Davies sisters Virgin and Child RELIGION AND BELIEF Old Master Renaissance

Comments - (4)

Marc Haynes Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales Staff
5 December 2019, 16:57

Dear Johann,

Many thanks for your enquiry, which I have forwarded to our Art department for their consideration.

Best wishes,

Marc
Digital Team

Johann Magdalena
18 November 2019, 13:20
Wonderful picture. I would love to come and see it in December. I am convinced it is Botticelli.

May I ask -
1. Do we know the auction provenance when Mr Blaker bought it for £105 in 1917?
2. Do we know how/when the Davies sisters acquired it?
3. Cardiff in 1952 asked Berenson for his opinion. Do we know why Cardiff did not seem to accept his opinion that it was from the studio of Botticelli with both faces possibly painted by Botticelli? Did Berenson see the actual picture? Do you have any documentation relating to his opinion? Was the picture then ever on public display?
4. Prof Kanter's opinion seems very similar to Berenson's. Has Kanter seen the picture?

Sorry your having problems with the website. When will you be able to show the cleaned/restored version on the website? Will you change the attribution?

Many thanks Johann
Marc Haynes Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales Staff
18 November 2019, 10:49

Dear Mary Burton,

Thank you very much for your enquiry. I can confirm that this work is now on public display in Gallery 2 of National Museum Cardiff. Please let me apologize for the incorrect information on the webpage stating that the painting is in storage; we are experiencing difficulties with the website which we are working hard to resolve. I hope that you will enjoy this very fine painting on your visit tomorrow.

Best wishes,

Marc
Digital Team

Mary Burton
15 November 2019, 18:56
Following the recent Britain's Lost Masterpieces programme on this painting is it on view at the museum, or if not are there plans to show it in the future? I plan to visit next Tuesday 19th Nov and would love to see it! But would plan another visit in the future if were to be displayed in a gallery in due course.
Comments are currently unavailable. We apologise for the inconvenience.

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Virgin and Child with a Pomegranate
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