Arcadópolis
Madonna of the Pomegranate
Sandro Botticelli, c. 1487
What you see
The Virgin fills the center, holding the Child across her lap as he raises one hand. Three angels gather on each side in a half circle: some read red books, others carry garlands of roses, and white lilies peek out among them. She looks off to the side with a wistful expression, while most of the heads lean toward the center.
From the top, a golden half circle sends fine rays of light down over the whole group. The Virgin’s blues and reds stand out against the pinks and yellows of the angels. Keep an eye out for the gold trim running along the edge of her mantle, and the curly heads of the angels, each turned a different way.
About Sandro Botticelli
Sandro Botticelli worked in Florence for the powerful Medici family. His elegant figures, with hair that seems to float in the wind, brought ancient myths to life as never before. He also painted in the Sistine Chapel, years before Michelangelo.
More by Sandro Botticelli
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