Maria Lactans

In the centre of the Shrine of the Madonna della Tosse the Madonna breast feeding the Child is depicted. This type of Madonna was common from the late Middle ages onwards. She is surrounded by St Peter with the keys and a book, St Catherine with a broken wheel, St Margaret with a cross, and St Paul with a sword and book. In order to create the impression of a real altarpiece, several angels are holding a curtain around the altar painting. At the bottom edge of the picture, as if placed there quite by chance, Benozzo has painted a small pointed panel painting showing the face of Christ.