''The Virgin and Child'' is a c.1426

stiacciato Stiacciato is a technique that allows a sculptor to create a recessed or relief sculpture with carving only millimetres deep and with mere scribing. To give the illusion of greater depth, the thickness of the carving gradually decreases from the f ...

marble relief produced by a pupil or studio assistant of the

Italian Renaissance sculptor Italian Renaissance sculpture was an important part of the art of the Italian Renaissance, in the early stages arguably representing the leading edge. The example of Ancient Roman sculpture hung very heavily over it, both in terms of style and t ...

Donatello Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi ( – 13 December 1466), better known as Donatello ( ), was a Republic of Florence, Florentine sculptor of the Renaissance period. Born in Republic of Florence, Florence, he studied classical sculpture and use ...

, probably after a drawing or autograph sculpture by the master himself. It is sometimes known as the ''Hildburgh Madonna'' after Dr.

Walter Leo Hildburgh Walter Leo Hildburgh (1876-1955) was an American art collector, sportsman, traveller, scientist and philanthropist. Early life and education Hildburgh was born in New York in 1876 into a family that had arrived in America earlier in the nineteen ...

FSA, who in 1956 donated it to its present owner the

Victoria and Albert Museum The Victoria and Albert Museum (often abbreviated as the V&A) in London is the world's largest museum of applied arts, decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 2.27 million objects. It was founded in 1852 and nam ...

in London. It is dated to 1426 by comparison to

Masaccio Masaccio (, , ; December 21, 1401 – summer 1428), born Tommaso di Ser Giovanni di Simone, was a Florentine artist who is regarded as the first great Italian painter of the Quattrocento period of the Italian Renaissance. According to Vasari, ...

's ''

Madonna and Child In art, a Madonna () is a representation of Mary, either alone or with her child Jesus. These images are central icons for both the Catholic and Orthodox churches. The word is (archaic). The Madonna and Child type is very prevalent in ...

'', produced that year and from which it draws its details of its composition. John T. Spike, ''Masaccio'', Rizzoli libri illustrati, Milano 2002

References

Renaissance sculptures Marble sculptures 1420s sculptures Sculptures of the Victoria and Albert Museum {{Italy-sculpture-stub