The National Gallery has made an extraordinary addition to its collection with the acquisition of the early 16th-century Northern Renaissance altarpiece, The Virgin and Child with Saints Louis and Margaret. Shrouded in mystery and bursting with vivid detail, this masterpiece will go on display on 10 May, as part of the Gallery’s ambitious C C Land: The Wonder of Art exhibition and the reopening of the transformed Sainsbury Wing.
Dating to approximately 1510, this captivating work, acquired for £16.4 million through a private treaty sale brokered by Sotheby’s, is as enigmatic as it is wondrous. Its authorship remains unknown, with scholars debating whether the painter was Netherlandish or French. Despite its anonymity, the painting’s quality and inventive details firmly cement its importance within the Northern Renaissance canon.
A Blend of Beauty and Playfulness
At the center of the altarpiece, the Virgin Mary and Child are enthroned in an open-air chapel, surrounded by two music-playing angels, Saint Louis, and Saint Margaret. Margaret, magnificently dressed, emerges unscathed from the dragon that had swallowed her, a symbol of triumph over adversity. Above her, one angel plays a rare mouth harp, while the other holds a songbook with inscribed lines from a Marian hymn, Ave Regina Caelorum.
But this painting offers more than solemn devotion; it’s also peppered with playful quirks. A bawdy child on a column capital cheekily exposes his derrière, and the dragon slathered at Margaret’s feet is both fearsome and faintly comical. The wooden steps and nails in the painting hint at Christ’s future sacrifice, adding a layer of profound symbolism to an otherwise whimsical scene.
“The eccentricity and variety in this work make it unlike anything else in the collection,” says Emma Capron, Curator of Early Netherlandish and German Paintings. “This is the work of a talented and highly original artist. I hope that ongoing research and its public display will help solve the conundrum of its authorship.”
Crafting a Narrative Across Centuries
Art historians have drawn parallels between this altarpiece and the works of prominent Northern Renaissance artists like Jan van Eyck and Jan Gossaert. The dramatic lighting and monumental forms echo French painters such as Jean Hey, while the Baltic oak panel supports a Netherlandish origin, hinting at shared techniques across regions.
Dendrochronology reveals the painting’s panel dates back to after 1483, while the depiction of Saint Louis’ chain of the Order of Saint Michael suggests it predates a redesign in 1516. These meticulous details place its creation around 1510, offering viewers a window into its time.
A Treasure Fit for a Bicentenary Celebration
The significance of this acquisition cannot be overstated. First recorded in 1602 as part of an urban priory in Drongen, Belgium, the painting’s long history is coming full circle as it finds a permanent home at the National Gallery. It has not been publicly exhibited since 1960, and its unveiling coincides with the Gallery’s bicentenary celebrations for 2024–2025, making it a key highlight in the reimagined collection.
“This extraordinary altarpiece is a rare and exciting addition to our superb collection of Early Netherlandish paintings,” Capron affirms. “Its acquisition underscores our ongoing commitment to bringing exceptional masterpieces to the public, even during challenging economic times.”
Supported by the American Friends of the National Gallery, The Virgin and Child with Saints Louis and Margaret joins other recent acquisitions, including Poussin’s Eucharist and Eva Gonzalès’ The Full-length Mirror.
Mark your calendars for 10 May, when this dazzling altarpiece makes its public debut. With its imaginative blend of devotion, humor, and mystery, this work isn’t just a painting; it’s an experience spanning centuries. Don’t miss the chance to witness this masterwork during one of the most momentous periods in the National Gallery’s history.
NG6708: Netherlandish or French
The Virgin and Child with Saints Louis and Margaret, about 1510
Oil on wood, measurements H 122.2 x W 105.8 cm
Bought with the support of the American Friends of the National Gallery, 2025
Bought at a special price of £16,420,000 by private treaty sale in negotiations brokered by Sotheby’s