The Young Virgin facts for kids
The Young Virgin is a famous painting from 1632-1633 by the Spanish artist Francisco de Zurbarán. It is also known as The Virgin Mary as a Child in Ecstasy. This beautiful artwork is now kept at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The painting shows the Virgin Mary when she was a young girl, deep in thought or prayer.
Contents
Who Was Francisco de Zurbarán?
Francisco de Zurbarán was a very important painter from Spain. He lived from 1598 to 1664. He is known for his religious paintings. Many of his artworks show saints, monks, and other figures from the Christian faith.
Zurbarán's Painting Style
Zurbarán's style is often called tenebrism. This means he used strong contrasts between light and dark. He would light up the main parts of his paintings brightly. The rest of the scene would be very dark. This made his figures look almost real and very dramatic. He was also very good at painting fabrics and objects, making them look like you could almost touch them.
About The Young Virgin Painting
The Young Virgin is a special painting because it shows Mary as a child. Most paintings of Mary show her as an adult. Here, she is shown as a young girl, perhaps around 10 to 12 years old.
What Does the Painting Show?
In the painting, Mary is kneeling. Her hands are together in prayer. Her eyes look up, as if she is having a deep spiritual moment. This is what "ecstasy" means in the title – a feeling of intense spiritual joy or connection. She is surrounded by a soft light. This light makes her stand out from the darker background.
Details in the Artwork
Zurbarán paid close attention to details. You can see the delicate folds of Mary's clothes. There is also a small basket with sewing tools next to her. This suggests she was doing everyday tasks before her moment of prayer. These small details help us imagine her life.
Where Can You See the Painting?
Today, The Young Virgin is a highlight at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This museum is one of the largest and most famous art museums in the world. It is located in New York City. People from all over the globe visit to see this and many other amazing artworks.
See also
- In Spanish: Virgen niña en éxtasis (Zurbarán) para niños
