Peer van den Molengraft (1922-2014) - Maria met kind

Oil on canvas by Peer van den Molengraft (1922–2014) with a religious depiction of Mary with the Christ Child. Mary sits in a landscape by the water, with the child close to her. Above both figures a fine aureole is depicted. On the right are two white doves in a tree; a third white dove flies just in front of Mary, creating a livel y contrast between the movement of the birds and the still posture of mother and child.

In the foreground are grass, stones and small flowers painted. The palette consists mainly of subdued blue, green and gray tones, with warm accents in the ocher-yellow garment of the child and the blue-white clothing of Mary.

The work is signed and dated 1941 slightly left of center.
Dimensions of canvas: 81 × 61 cm; including frame: 99 × 79 cm. The canvas has some small edge damages; the frame also shows damages.

Biography of the artist
Peer van den Molengraft (Eindhoven, 1922–2014) was a Dutch painter who became best known as a portraitist. He worked at a young age with Jan Kruysen and later received guidance from, among others, Harry Koolen. Eindhoven Encyclopedia. In addition to portraits he painted landscapes, still lifes and other figurative subjects. In his career he portrayed several international heads of state, including King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia and President Suharto of Indonesia. Michel van den Molengraft. His oeuvre was highlighted in 1987 and 2002 with survey exhibitions at Museum Kempenland in Eindhoven.