Maria Lactans on the Crescent

My name is Isabella, and I'll be your guide today! We're going to look at a really special painting. It's from a long, long time ago – way back in 1490! That's almost 600 years ago! Can you imagine? nn

(Pause for children to respond/think) nn

This painting is called Maria Lactans on the Crescent. It shows Mary, the mother of Jesus, holding baby Jesus. It's a very gentle picture. What do you think "lactans" might mean? (Hint: think about how baby animals and babies get food!) nn

(Pause for children to guess) nn

Yes, it means Mary is nursing baby Jesus! See how close they are? It shows how much love they have for each other. This painting is all about that love. nn

(Point to the painting and highlight key features) nn

Look at Mary's robe! It's a beautiful dark blue-green color, isn't it? And see the gold details? They're very shiny! And baby Jesus is snuggled right in her arms. He's so tiny! They both have golden circles around their heads. These are called halos. They show that they are special and holy. nn

(Pause for children to observe) nn

The artist, Heinrich Aldegrever, was very clever with his colors. He used mostly soft colors, right? There's not a lot of bright, shouting colors. It makes the painting feel calm and peaceful. And look where they are sitting! They're sitting on a crescent moon! That's a half-moon. It's a pretty special place to be, don't you think? nn

(Pause for children to respond) nn

The crescent moon is a symbol. It often represents Mary and her special connection to God. The artist wanted to show us how important Mary and Jesus are. He took a lot of time and care to paint this picture. He wanted to make it beautiful and meaningful. nn

(Pause for children to reflect) nn

So, what do you think about this painting? What is your favorite part? What makes you feel something when you look at it? nn

(Pause for children to share their thoughts) nn

I hope you enjoyed learning about this amazing painting! It's a wonderful example of art from a long time ago, and it still speaks to us today. Remember, art can make us feel things, think things, and even learn things! Let's go explore some more art now!