Madonna and Child of the Napkin facts for kids
Madonna and Child of the Napkin or Our Lady of the Napkin is a famous oil painting. It was created by the Spanish artist Bartolomé Esteban Murillo around the year 1666. This beautiful artwork was originally part of the altarpiece in a church in Seville, Spain. Today, you can see it at the Museum of Fine Arts of Seville. The painting is known for its bright colors and delicate shapes. It reminds some people of the artist Raphael. The way light and shadow are used in the painting shows influences from artists like Velázquez and Rubens.
History of the Painting
This painting has an interesting history. During the Peninsular War, a French general named Jean de Dieu Soult really admired Murillo's work. He tried to take this painting and others from the Capuchin monastery. However, the Capuchin friars were able to save the artworks. They moved them to Gibraltar in 1810. The paintings stayed there until the war ended in 1814.
Later, in 1836, the painting became property of the Spanish government. This happened because of a law passed by the Mendizábal government. This law took control of many church properties. After that, Madonna and Child of the Napkin was given to the new Museum of Fine Arts of Seville.
Why Is It Called "The Napkin"?
The special name of this painting, Madonna and Child of the Napkin, has a story behind it. The first time this name was written down was in 1833. It was in a book called A Dictionary of Spanish Painting.
There are two main stories about how the painting got its name:
- One story says that the Capuchin friars noticed a napkin was missing from their supplies. A few days later, Murillo returned it to them. But on the napkin, he had drawn the Madonna.
- Another story tells of a Capuchin friar who wanted a small painting of the Madonna and Child. He wanted it for his private prayers in his room. He couldn't afford a proper canvas for Murillo to paint on. So, he asked Murillo to paint it on a napkin instead.
