3-015-838 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Virgin And Child With Two Angels, c1480. The Virgin Mary balances an unfinished miniature building on one arm, while her son Jesus raises his hand in a blessing. Behind them, two angels unfurl a scroll on which an appeal to “contribute to this devotion” is written in Italian. The painting was probably intended to encourage viewers to earn blessings by offering donations toward the construction of a monastery or church—perhaps one resembling the structure depicted. Matteo di Giovanni