The Virgin with an Angel Making Music

1545

Vermeyen has his very own power of imagination. His angel is not an elevated, genderless celestial deity, but a real woman of flesh and blood wearing her finest apparel. She is portrayed with rather robust swan’s wings. The baby Jesus is a muscular, lively lad, who appears to show no sign of being lulled to sleep by the song the angel is strumming for him.