A Mother Entrusting Her Sons to Christ

Mattia Preti

Download hi-res image TITLE A Mother Entrusting Her Sons to Christ
AUTHOR Mattia Preti
DATE c. 1635 - 6
OBJECT TYPE AND MATERIAL Oil on canvas
DIMENSIONS cm 143 x 193
INVENTORY 444
ROOM XXIX
Work on display

Preti painted this picture and its companion piece, the Tribute Money, while a young man in Rome when he was still very much an adept of the Caravaggesque style, as we can see from his handling of light, his models and his themes: he treats religious subjects almost as though they were genre paintings. There is some debate over the subject matter, but it may refer to the time Jesus berated His apostles for sending away mothers bringing their children to Him: “Suffer the little children to come unto me”.