BOTTICELLI, Sandro
(b. 1445, Firenze, d. 1510, Firenze)

Madonna and Child (Madonna della Loggia)

c. 1467
Tempera on panel, 72 x 50 cm
Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence

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.