Madonna of the Goldfinch
C.1505
Raphael created this serene scene around 1505 as a wedding gift for his friend Lorenzo Nasi, capturing the perfect harmony of the High Renaissance. The title translates to 'Madonna of the Goldfinch,' referencing the little bird held by the young John the Baptist, which foreshadows Christ's future suffering. In a dramatic twist of fate, the masterpiece was shattered into 17 pieces when a landslide destroyed Nasi's home in 1547, but it was painstakingly glued back together and survives today as a testament to both Raphael's genius and the resilience of art.
Location: Uffizi Gallery, Florence
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