3-002-744 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Virgin and Child, c1480. The Virgin and Child sit on a bench of richly carved porphyry, a semi-precious stone mined in Egypt and traditionally associated with the Roman emperors and then with Christ as "lord of creation." Behind are the ruins of a domed building resembling the Pantheon, the famous temple in Rome built in the 1st century CE and dedicated to all the pagan gods which was later repurposed as a Christian church. By depicting the building in ruins, the artist is alluding to the idea that the birth of Christ ushered in a new Christian era to replace the crumbling pagan past. The rose petal in the Virgin’s hand is a symbol of her purity, while the vase of pears on the bench alludes to Christ’s endless love for humanity.