Virgin with trellised vines

Hans Baldung Grien continued to paint religious subjects for private patrons long after the Reformation, in particular images of the Virgin and Child, which were amazingly free in conception and ambiguous in character. The Virgin Mary in this attractive painting is depicted wearing a double pearl necklace. Her pale blond hair flows down over her red velvet dress with its subtle highlights. With one hand, she holds her dress; with the other, she supports the sleeping infant on her right arm, which is draped with a transparent fabric. A tiny nude angel approaches the child and tries to awake him to offer a bunch of grapes, a symbol of sacrifice. Five other playful cherubs, typical of Baldung’s style, frolic in the background on a trellis of vines. The group in the foreground, with their almost waxen complexions, stand out from the dark background, creating a mannered, somewhat unreal atmosphere. This work demonstrated a tendency towards Mannerism in the second half of Baldung’s career, evident in his predilection for acid colours, theatrical compositions and dramatic lighting.