The Lucca Madonna

A small panel for private prayer

The Virgin Mary sits on a canopied throne in a small room, nursing the Christ child. The panel, painted by Jan van Eyck around 1436, is only about 66 by 50 centimetres. It takes its name from a former owner, Charles Louis, Duke of Lucca. It belongs to the Städel Museum in Frankfurt.

Mary nursing the child

Mary looks down tenderly at the child, who drinks from her breast. Her red hair falls over a vast red mantle. Behind her, a richly patterned cloth of honour hangs from the canopy.

Lions on the throne

Small golden lions sit on the arms of the throne. They recall the throne of Solomon in the Bible, which had lions beside it, and link Mary to the Seat of Wisdom.

A window and a shelf

At the left, a window with round glass panes has two oranges or apples on its sill, possibly a reference to the Fall of Man.

At the right, a niche holds a glass carafe, a candlestick and a brass basin. These objects often symbolise Mary’s purity: light passing through glass without breaking it.

An oriental carpet

At her feet, a carpet with an intricate pattern covers the step. Van Eyck painted it with the same patience he gave to faces and fabrics.

An image for private prayer

Small paintings like this were made for private devotion, to be kept in a home or a chapel and used for prayer. The image of the Virgin nursing the Child, known as the Maria Lactans, was especially popular. It emphasised Mary’s humanity and her care for her son, inviting the viewer to feel tenderness and devotion.

The throne of Solomon

Mary sits on a high throne decorated with carved lions. This refers to the throne of King Solomon in the Bible, which had lions on its steps and armrests. In Christian thought, Mary was called the Seat of Wisdom, and the throne of Solomon became one of her symbols. The canopy above her and the rich cloth behind her emphasise her role as Queen of Heaven.

Everyday objects, deeper meanings

On the windowsill and shelf are a few objects: fruit, a glass carafe and a basin. The carafe, through which light passes without breaking it, was a common symbol of Mary’s virginity. The fruit may refer to the fall of Adam and Eve, which Christ came to redeem. Van Eyck painted these objects with the same precision as the figures, so ordinary things become signs of faith.

Glowing colour

Mary’s red cloak spreads across the lower half of the panel in deep folds. Van Eyck built up the colour in thin layers, so the red seems to glow from within. The patterned carpet, the blue and gold cloth of honour and the soft light from the window add to the richness of the small panel.

Where to see it

The Lucca Madonna hangs in the Städel Museum in Frankfurt, which bought it in 1850. Our hand-painted oil reproduction follows this composition. For more masterpieces, explore our top 100 most famous paintings.

Questions about the Lucca Madonna

Why is it called the Lucca Madonna?

After a former owner, the Duke of Lucca.

Where is it?

Städel Museum, Frankfurt.

What do the lions mean?

They recall the throne of Solomon and present Mary as the Seat of Wisdom.

How large is it?

About 65.7 × 49.6 centimetres, oil on panel.

Why are there lions on the throne?

They recall the throne of King Solomon, a symbol of Mary as the Seat of Wisdom.

What does the glass carafe mean?

Light passing through glass was a symbol of Mary’s virginity.

Sources and image credit

• Städel Museum: The Lucca Madonna
• Wikimedia Commons: Lucca Madonna (Google Art Project)

Public-domain reproduction of the Lucca Madonna (about 1436), via Wikimedia Commons (Google Art Project). Detail images are crops of the same historical painting; no reconstruction or upscaling.