Breast Feeding Collection

Rumila, Goddess
Roman goddess of breastfeeding

The Madonna of the Stairs (Madonna della Scala) - low relief
BAT5469660 The Madonna of the Stairs (Madonna della Scala) - low relief by Buonarroti, Michelangelo (1475-1564); Casa Buonarroti, Florence, Italy; Photo eNicol Orsi Battaglini; Italian

A young Berber woman breastfeeding her baby (colour litho)
960123 A young Berber woman breastfeeding her baby (colour litho) by French Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A young Berber woman breastfeeding her baby)

Oxytocin neurotransmitter molecule. Computer model showing the structure of the neurotransmitter and hormone Oxytocin. Atoms are colour-coded spheres (carbon: dark grey, hydrogen: light grey)

Ceramic figurine of a Mother Goddess, sitting in a chair and nursing a baby, 2nd century
Ceramic figurine of a Mother Goddess, sitting in a chair and nursing a baby, Romano-British, 2nd century. This piece is mould-made from pipeclay and was found in Welwyn, Hertfordshire, England

8619826

Madonna and Child and st Antonio abate, 15th century, unknown lombard painter (fresco)
8620124 Madonna and Child and st Antonio abate, 15th century, unknown lombard painter (fresco) by Lombard School, (15th century); Museo di Santa Giulia, Museo della citta, Brescia

Madonna feeding the Child, the young st John and st Mary Magdalene and Elizabeth, c.1530 (oil on canvas)
8620060 Madonna feeding the Child, the young st John and st Mary Magdalene and Elizabeth, c.1530 (oil on canvas) by Grano

Madonna with Child and angels, 1400-20 (tempera and gold leaf on panel)
8620024 Madonna with Child and angels, 1400-20 (tempera and gold leaf on panel) by Master of San Davino (fl. 1397-1420); Galleria Nazionale (Complesso Monumentale della Pilotta), Parma

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8619794

7336401

The Virgin of Humility with Angels and a Donor, 1360. Creator: Anon
The Virgin of Humility with Angels and a Donor, 1360.

The Virgin and Child enthroned, 1433. Creator: Rogier Van der Weyden
The Virgin and Child enthroned, 1433.

The Virgin lactans, 1525. Creator: Anon
The Virgin lactans, 1525.

The Virgin, standing, with the Christ Child at her Breast, 1530. Creator: Anon
The Virgin, standing, with the Christ Child at her Breast, 1530.

The young mother, c. 1660. Creator: Cornelis Bega
The young mother, c. 1660.

The Nursing Mother (La Mère Nourrice), 1804. Creator: Marguerite Gerard
The Nursing Mother (La Mere Nourrice), 1804.

Charity, c.1590 (oil on wood)
XOS5882001 Charity, c.1590 (oil on wood) by Bloemaert, Abraham (1566-1651); 87x100 cm; Cleveland Museum of Art, OH, USA; (add.info)

Cover of " Le Lire", Satirical en Colours, 1907_6_22: La preparation au bar - Childhood
ICA4861287 Cover of " Le Lire", Satirical en Colours, 1907_6_22: La preparation au bar - Childhood, Maternity - Illustration by Benjamin Rabier (1864-1939); (add.info)

Young San woman nursing child, South Africa. She wears a cape, necklaces and beaded skirt
FLO4722815 Young San woman nursing child, South Africa. She wears a cape, necklaces and beaded skirt. From Francois Le Vaillant (Levaillant, 1753-1824) Second Voyage into the Interior of Africa

Costume of the peoples of Senegal. Lithography for the book: " Galerie complete en tableaux fideles des peuples
FLO4635215 Costume of the peoples of Senegal. Lithography for the book: " Galerie complete en tableaux fideles des peuples d'Afrique" by Friedrich Wilhelm Goedsche (1785-1863)

Yamauba breast feeding Kintaro
2909899 Yamauba breast feeding Kintaro; (add.info.: Yamauba breast feeding Kintaro. 1804); Universal History Archive/UIG

Interior of an Arctic Eskimo hut (Greenland) in 1863
JAB4120610 Interior of an Arctic Eskimo hut (Greenland) in 1863.; (add.info.: Interior of an Arctic Eskimo hut (Greenland) in 1863.); Photo ©Jaime Abecasis

Germany: A young woman breastfeeding her child, 1890
LUX4712644 Germany: A young woman breastfeeding her child, 1890; (add.info.: Germany: A young woman breastfeeding her child, 1890); Photo © Lux-in-Fine

The curse: Adam digs in the ground, assists by death. Deep down, Eve breastfed her newborn by holding a cattail
FLO4675787 The curse: Adam digs in the ground, assists by death. Deep down, Eve breastfed her newborn by holding a cattail

The Virgin of the Holy Milk, c.1517 (oil on wood)
CUL4934562 The Virgin of the Holy Milk, c.1517 (oil on wood); 51x35 cm; (add.info.: SPAIN. ANDALUSIA. Cadiz. Museo de Cadiz); AIC

Mother and child behind mosquito netting
2909964 Mother and child behind mosquito netting; (add.info.: Mother and child behind mosquito netting. Print shows a woman breast feeding an infant behind mosquito netting)

The Nursing Mother, 1804 (oil on canvas)
8690961 The Nursing Mother, 1804 (oil on canvas) by Gerard, Marguerite (1761-1837); Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, Massachusetts, USA; (add.info.: By Marguerite Gerard)

Frontispiece to L Emile, ou De l'education by J.J Rousseau, c.1782 (engraving)
1761683 Frontispiece to L Emile, ou De l'education by J.J Rousseau, c.1782 (engraving); (add.info.: Emile, or On Education is a treatise on the nature of education and on the nature of man)

The Virgin and Child Appearing to Saint Francis of Assisi, 1680s (oil on canvas)
XOS5877350 The Virgin and Child Appearing to Saint Francis of Assisi, 1680s (oil on canvas) by Giordano, Luca (1634-1705); 273x229 cm; Cleveland Museum of Art, OH

Chukchi family, c1810 (engraving)
2086322 Chukchi family, c1810 (engraving) by Gallina, Gallo (1796-1874); (add.info.: Coll. Part. Geography. Russia. A Chukchi family. Woman breastfeeding. Engraving by G)

"Se da noticia de amas de leche Piso 2" publicite pour une nourrice, signee Teresa Servos, 1826, Barcelone
AIS5386814 "Se da noticia de amas de leche Piso 2" publicite pour une nourrice, signee Teresa Servos, 1826, Barcelone

African Art (Mbala): Wooden statuette "maternity". Tervuren
AIS5368059 African Art (Mbala): Wooden statuette "maternity". Tervuren.; (add.info.: Royal Museum for Central Africa Belgium); © Iberfoto

Virgin and child (sculpture)
8682990 Virgin and child (sculpture) by Mantegazza, Antonio (c.1440-95) ; Museo del Castello Sforzesco, Milan, Italy; (add.info.: By Antonio Mantegazza)

Caritas, 1535 (oil on panel)
8712015 Caritas, 1535 (oil on panel) by Cranach, Lucas the Elder (1472-1553); Nivaagaards Malerisamling, Niva, Denmark; (add.info.: By Lucas Cranach the Elder Caritas is Latin and means charity or)

Madonna of the Humilite nursing Jesus child. Painting by Francescuccio di Cecco Ghissi (14th century)
VEN5032863 Madonna of the Humilite nursing Jesus child. Painting by Francescuccio di Cecco Ghissi (14th century). Pinacoteca Comunale

Michelangelo Buonarroti dit Michel Ange (Michelangelo or Michelangelo, 1475-1564): Virgin who breastfed the child
GIM5037956 Michelangelo Buonarroti dit Michel Ange (Michelangelo or Michelangelo, 1475-1564): Virgin who breastfed the child.; (add.info)

Virgin and Child, detail: Nativite (left panel upper panels). Painting by Giovanni Del Biondo (ca. 1356-1398), 1345
JEB4897778 Virgin and Child, detail: Nativite (left panel upper panels). Painting by Giovanni Del Biondo (ca. 1356-1398), 1345. Polyptych. Italian altarpiece. Dim: 60x40cm. Oil on wood

Kouriat costumes (Siberia, Russia): men and woman in bete skins coats and a woman tattooed chukchi (Russia)
FLO4634625 Kouriat costumes (Siberia, Russia): men and woman in bete skins coats and a woman tattooed chukchi (Russia), with her children, in fur suits

Statues of the Egyptian goddess Isis in different forms, Isis and Horus 2, Isis with a cows head 4
FLO4620392 Statues of the Egyptian goddess Isis in different forms, Isis and Horus 2, Isis with a cows head 4. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Andrea Bernieri from Giulio Ferrario's

Prehistoric family during the European Upper Paleolithic. Engraving, late 19th century
1735982 Prehistoric family during the European Upper Paleolithic. Engraving, late 19th century; (add.info.: Prehistoric family during the European Upper Paleolithic. Engraving, late 19th century)

Statue of Goddess Breastfeeding a baby
7287255 Statue of Goddess Breastfeeding a baby; Vatican Museums and Galleries, Vatican City; (add.info.: Statue of Goddess Breastfeeding a baby. 1st century AD)

The legendary wolf collects the twins Remus and Romulus, found on the banks of the Tiber (Rome, Italy)
ELD4957816 The legendary wolf collects the twins Remus and Romulus, found on the banks of the Tiber (Rome, Italy). 19th century (engraving); Private Collection; Photo © The Holbarn Archive

Man Xhosa (South Africa), dressed in a loaf of leaves and woman with a loincloth of pearls, feeding his baby
FLO4635292 Man Xhosa (South Africa), dressed in a loaf of leaves and woman with a loincloth of pearls, feeding his baby. Between them, traditional musical instruments

Brahmin astronomer in study as his wife breastfeeds an infant, 1828
3480378 Brahmin astronomer in study as his wife breastfeeds an infant, 1828; (add.info.: Brahmin astronomer in study as his wife breastfeeds an infant. By Marlet 1828.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Three Indian figures from a monument. Handcolored copperplate engraving from Robert von Spalart's " Historical
FLO4704458 Three Indian figures from a monument. Handcolored copperplate engraving from Robert von Spalart's " Historical Picture of the Costumes of the Principal People of Antiquity

For sale as Licensed Images

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"Breastfeeding: A Sacred Bond of Love and Nourishment" In ancient times, breastfeeding was revered as a divine act, symbolizing the nurturing qualities of Rumila, the Goddess. The image of a young Berber woman tenderly nursing her baby captures this timeless connection. As we delve into the science behind breastfeeding, we encounter oxytocin, the neurotransmitter molecule that plays a vital role in bonding between mother and child, and is nature's way of enhancing maternal instincts and fostering an unbreakable bond. Centuries ago, artists depicted the beauty of motherhood through their masterpieces. "Motherhood 1905" portrays pastel hues delicately capturing the tenderness shared during breastfeeding. Meanwhile, a ceramic figurine from the 2nd century showcases a Mother Goddess serenely nursing her baby in a chair – an enduring symbol of fertility and nourishment. Throughout history, depictions like "The Virgin and Child by a Fountain" or "The Holy Family with Two Musician Angels" celebrate breastfeeding as an integral part of family life. These artworks remind us that it is not merely about sustenance but also about love and spiritual connection. Even folklore highlights the significance of breastfeeding; take for instance Cimon and Pero's tale from mid-17th century Europe. This heartwarming story tells us how selfless acts can save lives while emphasizing compassion within families. Nature itself teaches us valuable lessons on nurturing through animals like polar bears. Witnessing Huggies lovingly lick her twin cubs while feeding them publicly reminds us that this act transcends human boundaries – it is universal to all mothers seeking to provide for their young ones. "The Shepherd and his Family, " an etching from 1644, depicts yet another example where caregiving takes center stage amidst pastoral scenes. It emphasizes how breastfeeding has been ingrained in our cultural fabric since time immemorial. Ultimately, at its core lies the essence of charity.