Tondo Doni
from 1506 until 1506
Michelangelo's only surviving panel painting bursts with muscular energy and vibrant colors, completely breaking from the serene norms of his time. The Holy Family is tangled together in a dynamic pose, with Mary twisting to receive the baby Jesus from Joseph, looking more like a wrestler than a traditional Madonna. Behind them, a low wall separates the sacred scene from a group of nude figures, often interpreted as the pagan world before Christ's arrival. Painted for a wealthy Florentine merchant to celebrate his marriage, this circular masterpiece still hangs in its original, intricately carved wooden frame designed by the artist himself at the Uffizi Gallery.
Location: Uffizi Gallery, Florence