Copy of the Madonna della Seggiola

A very sweet seated Virgin holds her child in her arms, with her left leg raised to bring him close to her. Both turn to the observer, under the gaze of St. John in prayer. The tondo reproduces in minute mosaic, within an elaborate frame. gilded, Raphael's absolute masterpiece, archetype of motherhood and reference to the 'mother' Church, probable commission by Leo X to which the chamber chair is mentioned, prerogative of the pope or a high prelate. The work was donated by Pius XI to Queen Elena on the occasion of the first visit of the royals to the Vatican on December 5, 1929 after the Lateran Pacts.