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Primary sourcePainting1651

Virgin and Child with a Rosary

Artemisia Gentileschi · 1651

A small late painting of the Virgin and Child by Artemisia Gentileschi, made near the end of her life for Spanish royal patrons.

One of Gentileschi's final known works, revealing her continued royal patronage near the end of her career.

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Painting of the Virgin Mary in a red dress and blue mantle holding a rosary, seated with the nude infant Christ on her lap. He reaches toward the rosary beads. Dark background with green drapery and roses at lower right.
Artemisia Gentileschi, Virgin and Child with a Rosary, 1651. Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial.

About this source

What it is

This small oil-on-copper painting shows the Virgin Mary holding a rosary with the infant Christ on her lap. It was completed in 1651 by Artemisia Gentileschi and is now held at the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial in Spain.

Why it matters

This is one of the last known works by Gentileschi, showing that she kept painting and attracting royal patrons right up until the end of her life. Scholars have debated whether it is really by her, since the bright colours differ from her usual style, though her signature appears on the table edge. Some think she may have deliberately changed her style to please her patron.

Look closer

  • What does the gentle pose of mother and child tell you about the painting's purpose?
  • Why might an artist change their usual style for a specific patron?
  • What does the debate over who painted this tell you about how art historians work?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Artemisia Gentileschi on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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