Virgin and Child in a Landscape

The artist (whose name translates to “Cima of Conegliano”) was born in Conegliano, a thriving market town north of Venice, in the foothills of the Italian Alps. The landscape of this region frequently appears in the backgrounds of Cima’s paintings. The hill town depicted in the background of Virgin and Child in a Landscape is probably Conegliano. Cima’s family name comes from the profession of his father and grandfather. They were cimatori di panni, craftsmen employed in the trimming and finishing of woolen cloth.

Cima was part of the generation of artists who brought about the “Golden Age” of Venetian painting, which features these specific qualities: the improvement and exploration of the practice of oil painting, a remarkable sensitivity for depicting light, and a fondness for painting landscapes. All three qualities are evident in Virgin and Child in a Landscape.

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