Madonna Adoring the Child

The infant Jesus sits on a corner of the Virgin Mary’s cloak, looking out at us solemnly and resting one hand on a book. His mother joins her hands in devotion, the thoughtful expression on her face suggesting knowledge of her son’s fate. The sacred status of the figures is indicated by the cloth of honour separating them from the background. Behind them is a rocky landscape, inspired perhaps by the mountains of northern Italy where the artist lived and worked.