Public domain
Virgin and Child
From the collection of Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
Statues of the Virgin with her son on her arm often depict him holding an attribute in his hand, such as an apple, a globe or, as here, a bird. This is a reference to his suffering on the cross. According to one legend, a bird tried to take a thorn from the crown of thorns on Christ’s head.
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam’s own descriptionCredit lineMaria met Christuskind. c. 1350. anonymous. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Public domain.
