Madonna of the Goldfinch
The original, as its museum records it
Every line above is reproduced from the holding institution’s own catalogue entry, which is linked. Where their title, date or attribution differs from ours, theirs is the one printed here.
The file this print is made from
Sizes
About this painting
Washington owns two Madonnas of the Goldfinch. In the other, a Kress gift of 1943, the Child holds his mother's mantle in one hand and the bird in the other; Diane De Grazia has suggested it was ordered by a client who wanted one like this. This is the model.
The difference is in the Child's other hand. It holds a chain, running to the bird's foot, the end up by his chest. The goldfinch stands for his coming death. He has it on a leash.
Sources: National Gallery of Art, Washington, 'Madonna of the Goldfinch', Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, 1997.60.1 · Smithsonian National Postal Museum, 'Tiepolo - Madonna and Child', The Art of Christmas Stamps 1980-1989 · National Gallery of Art, Washington, 'Madonna of the Goldfinch', 1943.4.40 · Web Gallery of Art, Tiepolo, 'Madonna of the Goldfinch' · Samuel H. Kress Foundation, Kress Collection, 'Madonna of the Goldfinch', K1303
Printed on demand. Public-domain masterwork, reproduced from a 34,907 px master of the original. The whole image is printed — never cropped to fit the sheet — so every sheet carries an archival margin, and the dimensions and resolution listed above are the ones you receive.