Madonna and Child
c. 1470
Painted around 1470 when Botticelli was just a young upstart, this piece shows he was heavily influenced by his teacher, Fra Filippo Lippi. Notice the incredibly heavy, sculptural folds of Mary's green robe—it looks like it weighs a ton! The baby Jesus isn't a stiff, holy icon but a chubby, curious toddler reaching for his mother's neck, while she gazes down with a melancholic sweetness. See that little star on her shoulder? That’s a reference to her title 'Stella Maris' or Star of the Sea, and the classical columns in the back are a classic Early Renaissance flex showing off the new rules of perspective.
- Dimensions
- 87 x 60 cm
Location: National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
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