“Madonna Litta” by Leonardo Da Vinci, 1600s
“When [Jesus] sucked the milk of Mary, He was suckling all with Life. While He was lying on His Mother’s bosom, in His bosom were all creatures lying. He was silent as a Babe, and yet He was making His creatures execute all His commands.” (Hymns on the Nativity, Hymn 3)
“The Virgin Nursing the Child,” by Pompeo Batoni, via Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
“Madonna and Child” by Defendente Ferrari, via Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
“Virgin and Child” by Leonardo da Vinci 1452 – 1519, via Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
“And they stood in the place of the cave: and behold a bright cloud overshadowing the cave. And [Mary’s] midwife said: My soul is magnified this day, because mine eyes have seen marvellous things: for salvation is born unto Israel. And immediately the cloud withdrew itself out of the cave, and a great light appeared in the cave so that our eyes could not endure it. And by little and little that light withdrew itself until the young child appeared: and it went and took the breast of its mother Mary.” (Protoevangelium of S. James)
Breast-feeding in the Back Pew via Andrea Solari / Yorck Project
“The Virgin Nursing the Infant, by Lucas Cranach the Elder” via Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
“At the Wednesday General Audience the other day there was a young mother behind one of the barriers with a baby that was just a few months old. The child was crying its eyes out as I came past. The mother was caressing it. I said to her: madam, I think the child’s hungry. ‘Yes, it’s probably time…’ she replied. ‘Please give it something to eat!’ I said. She was shy and didn’t want to breastfeed in public, while the Pope was passing.” – Pope Francis
“St Luke Painting the Virgin” by Rogier van der Weyden, via Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
“Virgin Mary and Jesus” by Guido Reni
“One of the earliest depictions (if not the earliest depiction) of Mary, this is Our Lady as painted in the Priscilla Catacombs, ca. A.D. 250” – Fisheaters.com
Modesty is in her downward gaze, closed mouth, a child in her lap, and a forward-facing nipple to show her maternity.
“Madonna with the Infant Christ and St John the Baptist,” by Domenico di Pace Beccafumi, via Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
“Mary and Child” – detail by Gerard David, 1490, via stpeterslist.com
“Madonna and Child” by Andrea Solario Milan (1465-1524)
Madonna and Child with St. Joseph and St. John the Baptist (Madonna of the cat) by Federico Barocci
Kid in the background’s like, hey how come I didn’t get invited to this portrait session?
“The Virgin nursing the Child,” by Lucas Cranach the Elder, via Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
And here we have the best breastfeeding cover ever made:
“The Virgin Mary nursing the Christ Child,” by Hans Memling, via Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
“Madonna Nursing the Christ Child,” by Master of the Legend of the Magdalen, via Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Nursing has not only just been for babies…
“Madonna Lactans mit Josef und Johannesknabe,” by Anonymous, via Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
“The Virgin Nursing the Child with St. John the Baptist in Adoration,” by Giampietrino, via Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
“Nursing Madonna,” by Bernardino Luini, via Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Baby reaches for mama and she responds with warmth on her face and in her breast…
“Madonna nursing the Child,” by Erasmus Quellinus II, via Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
By Raphael
By Raphael
Late Baroque Painting Nursing Madonna Jesus Baby, circa 1750
Their hands! Their hands! My heart bursts.
“Madonna and Child,” by Bernardino Luini, via Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
“Virgin and Child,” by Bernard van Orley, via Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
After a night of imbibing in too much breast milk…
“Virgin and Child,” by Hans Baldung, via Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
“Virgin and Child,” by Joovs van Cleve, 1525, via Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Breastfeeding is calming even in the midst of chaos…
“The Holy Family,” by El Greco, via Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
“The Holy Family” by Francisco de Zurbaran, 1659
By Michelangelo, via fisheaters.com
She’s got that new nursing mother glow…
“Madonna col Bambino in gloria con i santi Martino e Caterina,” by Moretto da Brescia, via Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
“Virgen de Belen,” by Marcellus Coffermans, via Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
“Madonna with Child,” by Rogier van der Weyden, via Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Who needs Holy Water when you have breast milk?
“Sagrada Família,” by Josefa de Óbidos, via Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
According to StPetersList.com, the next painting “depicts the spiritual nourishing of St. Bernard by the milk of Our Lady, based on this legendary mystical experience: Bernard prayed before a statue of the Madonna, asking her, ‘Show yourself a mother’ (‘Monstra te esse Matrem’). The statue came to life and and squirted milk from the breast onto the Saint’s lips.”
“The Miraculous Lactation of St. Bernard” by Alonso Cano, A.D. 1650, via stpeterslist.com
He was lofty
but He sucked Mary’s milk,
and from His blessings all creation sucks.
He is the Living Breast of living breath;
by His life the dead were suckled, and they revived.
Without the breath of air no one can live;
without the power of the Son no one can rise.
Upon the living breath of the One Who vivifies all
depend the living beings above and below.
As indeed He sucked Mary’s milk,
He has given suck — life to the universe.
As again He dwelt in His mother’s womb,
in His womb dwells all creation.
(St. Ephraem’s Hymns on the Nativity)
Mama's Milk, No Chaser 