# Virgin and Child

- By: Rossello di Jacopo Franchi (Italian, c.1376–1457)
- Date: late 1430s
- Medium: tempera on wood
- Classification: Painting
- Dimensions: Framed: 79.5 x 64 x 5.5 cm (31 5/16 x 25 3/16 x 2 3/16 in.); Unframed: 69.2 x 55.2 cm (27 1/4 x 21 3/4 in.)
- Culture: Italy, Florence
- Credit line: Holden Collection
- Museum: [Cleveland Museum of Art](https://clevelandart.org/art/1916.814)
- Rights: [Public domain (CC0)](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- Picture: https://invisiblenetwork.ai/thumbs/cma/1916.814/1916.814_web.jpg
- Who can see it: Tweens profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

In his left hand the Christ Child holds a swallow. Swallows were thought to hibernate during winter in nests of mud. Their re-emergence in spring symbolized the Resurrection of Christ. This painting was probably the central panel of an altarpiece. After the altarpiece was broken up, the work was cut into its present octagonal shape.