Madonna and Child with Angels
1465-1470
Botticelli painted this tender scene early in his career, around 1468, showcasing the sweet, melancholic faces that would become his signature. The Virgin Mary, draped in a rich green and red gown, holds a surprisingly chunky and alert Christ Child, while an angel in the foreground gently supports the baby's legs and stares directly at you with a serious expression. The golden halos and the decorative garland of leaves and birds in the background highlight the delicate, decorative style of the early Italian Renaissance. Today, this intimate masterpiece hangs in the National Gallery in London, where visitors often marvel at the angel's unusually direct and modern-looking gaze.
Location: National Gallery, London