The artwork, titled “Madonna and Child. Left Panel of Diptych de Melun,” was created by Jean Fouquet around the year 1450. This piece, rendered using tempera on wood, epitomizes the Northern Renaissance art movement. Measuring 93 x 85 cm, it resides in the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp, in Belgium. The genre of the artwork is religious painting.
The artwork depicts a serene scene featuring the Madonna and Child. The Virgin Mary is portrayed with an almost otherworldly pallor, seated in an elegant pose, and adorned with a crown, signifying her majesty and purity. The Child, sitting on her lap, holds a subdued, contemplative demeanor. The striking use of contrasting colors, particularly the vivid red and blue angels, accentuates the ethereal quality of the scene. The detailed rendering of their garments and facial expressions showcases Jean Fouquet’s meticulous technique, typical of the Northern Renaissance. The image exudes a sense of divinity and introspection, encapsulating the profound spiritual essence of its religious subject matter.