Madonna del Magnificat, by Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510), 19th/20th century.
Technique: watercolor and gouache on paper
Tondo diameter: 59 cm, painting framed in decorative gilded frame: dimensions 76 x 76 cm
Image signed with initials: 'CM'
Work behind glass, framed in a beautiful gilded frame
Preservation condition: very good
The presented scene is a copy of one of the most prized works by Sandro Botticelli - a painting depicting the Madonna and Child surrounded by angels, known as "Madonna del Magnificat". The original of this painting is housed in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, one of the world's most important museums collecting works by Renaissance masters.
The scene, though seemingly static, is full of symbolism. The composition of the painting epitomizes Renaissance harmony, where every detail has its meaning. The crown of stars is a reference to the Queen of Heaven, the open book symbolizes the Old Testament, and the pomegranate in the infant's hand is a foreshadowing of His future martyrdom.
The painting, inscribed in a circular tondo (a form characteristic of Botticelli's work), depicts the Madonna who, surrounded by angels, is crowned with a crown of stars. In the center of the composition is the infant Jesus, holding a pomegranate fruit - a symbol of martyrdom and redemption. Angels, dressed in rich Renaissance robes, hand an open book with a fragment of the text of the Magnificat - Mary's song of thanksgiving. The expression on Mary's face, full of serenity and contemplation, harmonizes with the gentle gesture of passing a pen to write down the next verses of the song.
"Madonna del Magnificat" is a timeless work, whose charm lies in the combination of a spiritual message and extraordinary aesthetics. Through subtle lines, perfect proportions and masterful handling of light, Botticelli created a work ideal for both contemplation and decoration. A copy of this painting, created with the utmost care, can become the focal point of any interior, bringing to it the harmony and beauty characteristic of the Renaissance.
Sandro Botticelli (owner: Alessandro di Mariano Filipepi, 1445-1510) is one of the most important painters of the Italian Renaissance, known for his subtle compositions and masterful rendering of emotion and symbolism in his works. He created during the golden age of the Florentine Renaissance, influenced by patrons such as the Medici family.
Among his most recognizable works are "The Birth of Venus" and "Primavera, " which introduced mythological themes to European painting in a novel form. However, Botticelli was equally adept at religious depictions. His tondos with Madonnas were particularly prized by his contemporaries and highlighted his ability to combine spiritual depth with decorative richness.
Botticelli often used the circular format of the tondo, drawing inspiration from the tradition of Tuscan desco da parto - painted trays given to mothers after the birth of a child. These complex compositions, subordinated to symmetry and harmony, reflected the Renaissance fascination with geometry and the divine order of the world.
