Giovanni Bellini and Workshop
Virgin and Child

Mary looks at us with a serious expression on her face. She knows her child will die on the cross and redeem humanity through his death. As a symbol of original sin, she is holding ... not an apple, but a pear … in her left hand. Her right hand is clasped about her son, who may still be unsteady on his feet. This emblematic scene takes place in front of a bright red curtain, behind which we can see the city of Vicenza – one of Venice's neighbouring cities.

Giovanni Bellini and the painters in his workshop were famous for their portrayals of the Madonna. They painted her in countless works – each with slightly different minor details. Bellini and his assistants arranged individual elements into ever new compositions, avoiding the temptation to mass-produce a single successful subject.

For example: compare this Madonna and Child with the one known as the "Rogers Madonna ", the second picture at this stop. Both paintings are from Bellini's workshop. There's a resemblance – and yet they're quite different when you get down to the detail. The pear, the blue mantle, the landscape in the background, the naked boy... can you identify any other features that are similar, yet different?