FA000009 – The Glorification of the Virgin, Albert Cornelis, c1515

Part of the One Minute Wonders trail, a story written by one of our volunteers, inspired by objects on display.

By Dani Tabakova

This large oil and tempera on wood panel painting, shows the Virgin Mary, holding a baby Jesus Christ. They are in the clouds, surrounded by angels.

The subjects in this painting are immediately recognisable, but what do you think makes this painting different from traditional icon art?

Painted during the Renaissance, Cornelis included typical themes of the time – such as heightened realism and clouds.
Contrasting Byzantine icon styles, this painting has no halos on the heads of the holy, it was traditional for Christ to be depicted as a little man, but here he looks more like a child.

In the style of many Renaissance painters of the time, clouds are included as a symbol of heaven, with regular life landscapes below.