Flemish Master, 17th century. Madonna and Child. Quentin Metsys (1466 Leuven – 1530 Antwerp), - In the style of. Oil on wood. Signs of age, some restoration, craquelure. Size approx.: 33.5 x 23 cm (frame: 46.5 x 36 cm). Partially gilded Florentine frame. The iconography of the Virgin and Child embracing, cheek to cheek, as interpreted by Quentin Metsys (or Massys), forms part of a major transitional tradition between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. This type of depiction, often referred to as the Virgin of Tenderness (or Eleusa in the Byzantine tradition), carries several profound meanings. By depicting intimate physical contact (cheek to cheek, arms entwined), Metsys emphasises the human dimension of Christ. This closeness serves as a reminder that the Son of God became man, capable of feeling filial affection and the vulnerability of an infant. This type of work, often small in size, was intended for personal devotion. The realism of the faces and the tenderness of the gesture aim to evoke empathy and emotion in the faithful, fostering a more direct and sensitive relationship with the divine. Origin: private collection from Southern Germany.