Which museum in Munich holds Leonardo's Madonna of the Carnation?

The Alte Pinakothek in Munich holds Leonardo da Vinci’s Madonna of the Carnation. The painting, also called Madonna with Vase or Virgin with Flower, was created around 1478–1480 and is one of Leonardo’s earliest surviving Madonnas.

The work shows the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child while presenting him with a red carnation. In Christian art, the flower can suggest Christ’s future Passion, giving the tender scene a more solemn meaning. Leonardo used strong contrasts between the illuminated faces and the darker room to create depth.

The painting was once attributed to Andrea del Verrocchio, Leonardo’s teacher, but later art historians generally accepted Leonardo’s authorship. Its composition and details, including Mary’s hand, hair, drapery, and flowers, connect it with other works from his Florentine period.

It is permanently displayed in the Alte Pinakothek’s Italian Renaissance collection. A common mix-up is with the Benois Madonna, another early Leonardo Madonna, which is held by the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg.