The motif of the mother with child appears across many eras, even though its context has changed significantly over time. As early as ancient Egyptian depictions of the goddess Isis with the child Horus, we already find the image of a mother with her child.

In the Middle Ages, Christianity adopts this motif: in Romanesque art, Mary appears as the “Seat of Wisdom,” while Jesus sits on her lap like a small adult, holding a globe and a book as symbols of authority and wisdom. These representations are usually solemn and dignified.

In the Gothic period, the motif becomes much more lively and emotional. Mary holds her naked child, who is shown kicking his legs. The child often carries attributes that foreshadow his future suffering, such as a bunch of grapes, since wine in Christianity symbolizes the blood of Jesus.