The Madonna and Child with Saint Peter and Saint Jerome

Elements of Leonardo combine in this lovely panel with classical forms inspired by Raphael. The Madonna is shown holding the Child in the company of Saint Peter and Saint Jerome. The former is identified by the keys in his right hand (“And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven”, Jesus said to him, as we read in the Gospel of Matthew, 1:19), while the latter is shown dressed as a cardinal, in a very ancient and frequent iconographic form.