The ''Madonna with the Christ Child Writing'' is a painting by the Italian Renaissance master

Pinturicchio Pinturicchio, or Pintoricchio (, ; born Bernardino di Betto; 1454–1513), also known as Benetto di Biagio or Sordicchio, was an Italian painter during the Renaissance. He acquired his nickname (meaning "little painter") because of his sma ...

, painted around 1494-1498 and housed in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

. The painting is derived from the '' Madonna of Peace'' (c. 1490), a simplification for a less acculturated commissioner, perhaps a private family. The Virgin sits on a kind of cask, and is offering a book to the Child, who writes on it. The garments of the Child are perhaps inspired by the late Byzantine mosaics seen by Pinturicchio in Rome. In the background is a small depiction of the Flight into Egypt and two symmetrical trees, one which is a palm, a symbol of martyrdom.

Sources

* {{15C-painting-stub 1490s paintings Paintings in the collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art Paintings of the Madonna and Child by Pinturicchio Paintings depicting the Flight into Egypt Books in art