Virgin of the Hat with Child

Pedro de Mata
active between 1532 and 1593
Date: c. 1567
Dimensions: 48 x 38 cm
Materials: Oil on canvas
The work depicts the Virgin wearing a beautiful pilgrim’s hat, with the Christ Child in her arms. This type of Virgin became fashionable in the 16th century and is currently known through versions by Luis de Morales (Badajoz, 1509–1586), who until recently was considered the creator of this beautiful model of the Virgin, with all works presenting the same iconography being attributed to him or his workshop. The study carried out has shown that there is a great proximity between this Virgin of the Hat with Child, the original model work made by Antonio de Holanda (1480 – 1571), The Empress of Portugal with Prince Philip in her arms, from the Casa Medina Sidonia Foundation, and what we consider to be the oldest version made by Luis de Morales. The Virgin and Child or The Virgin with the Hat, from the Monastery of the Barefoot Royals in Madrid, but with styles that differ from both authors, being closer to the works that have been attributed to the Portuguese painter Pedro de Mata.