Madonna with Sleeping Child

Andrea Mantegna is a popular artist who was born near Padua now Italy in 1453. He was an artist working under Squarcione who he claimed to have been exploiting his talent and moved to work with the Bellinis.

One of his best-known work is the agony in the garden, and Madonna and the sleeping child. This art portrays the Virgin Mary holding a baby to her face. This art shows the maternal love that is expressed by mothers to their children. Andrea Mantegna used the Donatello motif technique in painting this art piece. His technique was also influenced by his father in law and brother in law Jacopo Bellini and Giovanni Bellini respectively. Additionally, his paintings were influenced by Caravaggio who was one of the greatest artist and influencer in the whole of Europe.

The portrait was drawn by the use of oil paints onto finely woven canvas to bring the portrait to life. This can be seen on the upper parts of the portrait under the very thin pigment layer, which shows creativity and art. However, the color of the picture was altered by an unsophisticated restoration done in the early 19th century which changed the entire composition of the painting. This alteration was done using a layer of varnish which was painted over the canvas changing the entire composition if the painting and making the colors more uniform.

The painting was done around 1465-1470, and it was intended for private devotion, it shows the humanity and love that Mary had for his son. The portrait was used to show that kind of love and patience mothers have for their children. Her look and gaze suggest the pain she will feel when she holds her son for the last time. The Madonna with the sleeping child portrait is preserved at the Gemaldegalerie which is an art museum in Berlin Germany. The museum holds some of the famous art pieces in the world and protects them from damage, ensuring that the history and the beauty of the piece are not lost. The painting shows Mary with no halo and brings out the humanity behind the art. It shows a more intimate connection between a mother and her son.