2-999-311 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Madonna and Child, c1480. Against a shimmering gold background patterned with a elegant floral motif, the Madonna embraces the Infant Christ and presses her cheek against his. She gently wraps her veil around the Child’s nude body as he turns around and looks out at the viewer. With this action, the Christ Child seems to ask the viewer to pray, an appropriate request given the painting’s original function as the focus for private devotion in a domestic interior.