Virgin and Child with an Angel by Sandro Botticelli - 1475/85 - 85.8 × 59.1 cm Art Institute of Chicago Virgin and Child with an Angel by Sandro Botticelli - 1475/85 - 85.8 × 59.1 cm Art Institute of Chicago

Virgin and Child with an Angel

Tempera on panel • 85.8 × 59.1 cm
  • Sandro Botticelli - c. 1445 - May 17, 1510 Sandro Botticelli 1475/85

In this humanizing yet idealized depiction of the Virgin Mary embracing the baby Jesus, the Renaissance master Sandro Botticelli conveys the sacred beauty of maternal love. Mary, her expression soft and skin luminous, nuzzles her son’s chubby cheek as he grasps the nape of her neck. An angel, smaller in scale, looks on adoringly. Celebrated in his own time, Botticelli developed a distinctly sentimental and tactile style of painting for both religious and secular subjects.

P.S. Sandro Botticelli created one of the most known paintings in the world:  The Birth of Venus. This amazing masterpiece is included in our 50 Masterpieces Postcard sets; check it out, you will love it! Also, you will want to read about Botticelli's second most famous work, La Primavera.  <3