Virgin and Child Surrounded by Angels
1452-1458
Jean Fouquet created quite the scandal with this panel from the Melun Diptych! The Virgin Mary, with her impossibly pale skin and high, plucked forehead, is widely believed to be a portrait of Agnès Sorel, the official mistress of King Charles VII of France. Imagine the gossip: painting the holy mother looking exactly like the King's lover! She sits surrounded by a surreal crowd of red seraphim and blue cherubim who look more like intense little aliens than traditional angels. The exposed breast is a bold move for the 15th century, emphasizing her role as the 'Mother of God' in a very human, physical way.
Location: Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp
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