Virgin and Child with Two Angels — Sandro Botticelli

This early work by Sandro Botticelli, a master of the Early Renaissance, captures a tender moment between the Virgin Mary, the Christ Child, and two adoring angels, showcasing the artist's emerging grace and delicate touch.

ABOUT THIS WORK

Sandro Botticelli's "Virgin and Child with Two Angels" offers a tender glimpse into the devotional art of the Early Renaissance. While the specific details of this painting, housed in the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Strasbourg, are less documented than some of his more famous works like "The Birth of Venus" or "Primavera," it exemplifies the linear grace and delicate beauty that would become hallmarks of Botticelli's style. Born Alessandro di Mariano di Vanni Filipepi, Botticelli was a prominent figure of the Florentine School, and paintings of the Virgin and Child were a common and beloved subject during his time. This early work, dating to around 1468, would have been created when Botticelli was still relatively young, likely in his early twenties, making it an interesting piece for understanding the development of his artistic voice. It predates the period of his rediscovery by the Pre-Raphaelites in the late 19th century, a movement that greatly stimulated a reappraisal of his significant contribution to Italian Renaissance painting.

LOOK CLOSER

What to Notice

The delicate, almost melancholic expression on the Virgin's face

The playful interaction of the two angels with the Christ Child

The intricate folds and flowing lines of the drapery

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Audio Deep Dive

This early work by Sandro Botticelli, a master of the Early Renaissance, captures a tender moment between the Virgin Mary, the Christ Child, and two adoring an…

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THE ARTIST

Sandro Botticelli 1445–1510

Alessandro di Mariano di Vanni Filipepi, better known as Sandro Botticelli or simply Botticelli, was an Italian painter of the Early Renaissance. Botticelli's posthumous reputation suffered until the late 19th century, when he was rediscovered by the Pre-Raphaelites who stimulated a reappraisal of his work. Since then, his paintings have been seen to represent the linear grace of late Italian Gothic and some Early Renaissance painting, even though they date from the latter half of the Italian Renaissance period.

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