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17 century collection

Introduction
'The Virgin and Child with St Elizabeth and the Child Baptist', Peter Paul Rubens
'Self-portrait as a young man', Rembrandt van Rijn
'The Magdalen', Paulus Bor
'View of Dordrecht', Jan van Goyen
'Landscape with the ashes of Phocion', Nicolas Poussin
'River scene with a ferry boat', Salomon van Ruysdael
'The New Church at Delft', Hendrik Cornelisz van Vliet
'Virgin and Child in Glory'
'King Charles II', Godfrey Kneller
Roman Catholic Church Silver, Belgium

'Virgin and Child in Glory', Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, 1673

Framed by an archway, the Virgin is standing on a cloud holding the baby Jesus. At her feet there are depictions of cherubs in various poses. This continues as a pattern surrounding the virgin and child.

Oil on canvas, 236 x 169cm

Accession Number WAG1351

Murillo was the most important religious artist in Spain at the time this work was painted.

The altarpiece was commissioned by Ambrosio Ignacio Spnola y Guzmn, Archbishop of Seville (1670 - 84) for his private chapel in his Seville palace.

During the Spanish Peninsular War (1808 - 14) the palace was the headquarters of the French marshal Soult, who took the altarpiece with him as war booty. However, he did not have the central area of the canvas showing the faces of the Virgin and Child. The two separated parts were not reunited until they were acquired by the British collector Lord Overstone.

Purchased with the help of the National Art Collections Fund.