Madonna and Child

The half-length image of the Virgin and Child, made for contemplation in private homes, was in great demand in 15th-century Florence. This early masterpiece by Benedetto condenses layers of meaning into a simple composition. With one hand, the Christ child touches the cords of his mother's cloak, suggesting the ropes that will later bind him; with the other, he clings to her veil, a reference to the shroud that will envelop Christ's body in the tomb. His vigorous upward movement signals the final act of the drama: escape from the tomb and resurrection. While the Virgin meditates on what is to unfold, her son embraces his future in joyous exuberance.