Madonna and Child with a Pomegranate/Dreyfus Madonna
Oil on panel, 16.5 x 13.4 cm, attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, or Lorenzo di Credi, 1475–80
National Gallery of Art, Washington

This portrait shows the Virgin seated with the Christ child standing on her lap, as she offers him a broken pomegranate. In Christian symbolism, this fruit represents fertility, abundance, and the promise of new life, however, some art historians believe the pomegranate holds a deeper meaning. Its numerous seeds might foreshadow the future passion and suffering of Christ. The painting's key point of contention is its attribution. Art historians debate whether it is the work of da Vinci himself, or a highly skilled follower imitating his early style. It is currently attributed to Lorenzo di Credi by most scholars. He worked in the shop of Andrea del Verrocchio, at the same time as da Vinci, which would explain the similarity in style between the two students. Proponents of da Vinci's authorship cite the use of sfumato and the Virgin's characteristic bent finger. However, critics argue that the painting, particularly the Christ child, lacks the anatomical precision and compositional harmony typically found in da Vinci's works. The attribution to di Credi is based on stylistic similarities with his documented paintings. The portrayal of the Christ child and the overall composition align more closely with his style. Also, it is argued that the painting's small size is more typical of workshop productions during the Renaissance, where assistants would create devotional pieces based on the master's designs. Adding to the mystery is the painting's medium. While da Vinci would later become famous for his oil painting techniques, this work utilises tempera, a more common medium at the time. If he is indeed the author of this painting, it would indicate the work predates his experimentation with oils.