Madonna and Child (Madonna della Loggia)
by BOTTICELLI, Sandro, Tempera on panel, 72 x 50 cm
The theme of the Madonna and Child embracing, which was extremely widespread in the sculpture and painting of the Quattrocento, is derived from a Byzantine pictorial type. What is new here is the motif of the loggia, which still makes a rather flat impression behind the figures, although the even fall of the light is attempting to integrate it properly into the scene.
In this and a series of similar paintings, the young artist was trying out the repertoire of motifs associated with the theme of the Madonna and Child.