“Virgin and Child under an Apple Tree” is a religious painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Lucas Cranach the Elder, created in 1530 in Germany. Executed in oil on canvas, the artwork measures 87 by 59 centimeters and is currently housed in the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
The artwork depicts the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child beneath a canopy of apple-laden branches. The serene expressions of both figures and the gentle way in which Mary cradles Jesus are characteristic of Cranach’s style, demonstrating a tender moment of divine intimacy. The detailed rendering of the foliage and the meticulously painted apples symbolize the connection between Mary and the concept of the ‘New Eve,’ highlighting themes of redemption and original sin. The background, with its lush landscape and distant architectural structures, adds depth, creating a harmonious balance between the figures and their surroundings. Cranach’s use of vibrant colors and fine detailing epitomizes the aesthetic values of the Northern Renaissance movement, manifesting both religious reverence and artistic mastery.
