25 Favorite Madonna and Childs in Art History

Of all the subjects in all of art history, I would place money on Madonna and Child being the most represented subject in art. Just type “Madonna and Child” into a Google image search, and you will find an endless list of beautiful artworks. Today, I was going to do a 5 favorite Madonna and Child paintings post, but I absolutely couldn’t pick 5. I moved it to 10, then 12, then 20, and then I ended up at 25. I just found a 26th, and I can’t leave it out, so technically there are 26 in this list now. I pretty much spent all day looking at Madonnas.

Click on the image to view it larger.

Egon Schiele, Mother and Child (Madonna), 1908

Giotto, Scenes from the Life of Christ, 1. Nativity, Birth of Jesus, 1304-06

German, Madonna on a Crescent Moon in Hortus Conclusus, 1450s

Filippo Lippi, Madonna and Child, c. 1465

Felice Torelli, Virgin and Child with Angels and Saints, circa 1700

El Greco (Domenikos Theotokopoulos), Madonna and Child with Saint Martina and Saint Agnes, 1597-1599

Dieric Bouts, Virgin and Child, ca. 1455–60, Oil on wood

Bartolomé Estebán Murillo, Virgin and Child, ca. 1670–72

Woonbo Kim Ki-chang, The Birth of Jesus Christ, 1952-53

William-Adolphe Bouguereau, The Virgin of the Lilies (La Vierge au lys), 1899

the Art Curator for Kids - 5 Favorite Madonnas in Art - Paul Gauguin, la Orana Maria (Hail Mary), 1891, oil on canvas — Paul Gauguin, la Orana Maria (Hail Mary), 1891, oil on canvas

the Art Curator for Kids - 5 Favorite Madonnas in Art - Parmigianino, Madonna of the Long Neck, c. 1535-1540 — Parmigianino, Madonna of the Long Neck, c. 1535-1540

the Art Curator for Kids - 5 Favorite Madonnas in Art - French, Virgin and Child in Majesty, ca. 1175–1200 — French, Virgin and Child in Majesty, ca. 1175–1200

Ethiopia, Double Diptych Icon Pendant, early 18th century

the Art Curator for Kids - 5 Favorite Madonnas in Art - Edvard Munch, Madonna, 1895–1902, Color Lithograph — Edvard Munch, Madonna, 1895–1902, Color Lithograph

Sandro Botticelli, The Virgin and Child (The Madonna of the Book), 1480

Salvador Dalí, The Madonna of Port Lligat, 1949

Raphael, The Small Cowper Madonna, circa 1505, oil on panel

Peruvian, Virgin of the Rosary of Guápulo, ca. 1680, Oil on canvas

Paolo di Giovanni Fei, Madonna and Child, 1370s, Tempera on wood, gold ground — Paolo di Giovanni Fei, Madonna and Child, 1370s

Modern Madonna and Child, December 23, 1922, J.C. Leyendecker

John II Comnenus, Byzantine emperor, and his wife, Irene, with Madonna and child. Mosaic in Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, ca. 1118

Jean Fouquet, Virgin and Child Surrounded by Angels, 1452, oil on panel

Icon of the Virgin Mary, 16th century. St. Catherine’s Monastery in the Sinai

I’ll probably use these in future lessons on the blog. Let me know which one is your favorite so I know which one to do first. 🙂

I’m taking a 2 week blogging break. I’ll see in you 2015! Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy New Year! 🙂

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7 Comments

Nancy Lynn Barth

December 19, 2014 at 8:02 pm

It took me awhile to get the name of the artist for #16, but I was pretty sure it was Edvard Munch, and really, the only other painting of his I’ve seen is The Scream.

Reply to this comment
- Cindy, The Art Curator for Kids
  
  December 20, 2014 at 9:34 am
  
  Yes, you are right! This plug-in I used for this post was a little finicky with the way it displayed the names. I love his art. It is so emotional and dramatic. That one was so surprising and interesting to me, especially with the little baby in the corner.
  
  Reply to this comment
Chelsae Hackney

January 24, 2015 at 11:10 pm

I loved the Bouguereau. I was not familiar with that artist and I went on to find several of his paintings that I really like. Thank you for this blog. I amnot a kid but I am still enjoying it!

Reply to this comment
- Cindy, The Art Curator for Kids
  
  January 25, 2015 at 12:56 pm
  
  Thank you! I’m so glad you liked it, and I’m glad you found an artist you connect with. I really am writing for adults, so you fit right in. 🙂
  
  Reply to this comment
Caryn

March 23, 2015 at 11:19 am

I like the 16th century icon!

Reply to this comment
- Cindy, The Art Curator for Kids
  
  March 23, 2015 at 12:23 pm
  
  Ooh, I like that one too! It’s hard to pick a favorite!
  
  Reply to this comment
  - Jacob
    
    June 2, 2019 at 9:39 pm
    
    This is a great website
    
    Reply to this comment

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