Madonna was painted by Raphael in 1511.

Where can I see Madonna?

Madonna is held by Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp.

What movement is Madonna?

Madonna is associated with High Renaissance.

Artwork

Madonna

Raphael , 1511

Madonna is an oil painting by the High Renaissance artist Raphael. It dates from 1511 and is held in the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1511, this oil painting by Raphael portrays a tender scene of the Virgin Mary holding the infant Christ. A second child, likely the young Saint John the Baptist, stands behind them, his hands clasped in a gesture of reverence. The composition is modest in scale and is part of the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure of Mary, veiled and modestly dressed, embodies the ideal of maternal devotion, while the infant Christ, swaddled and turning his gaze outward, emphasizes his divine humanity. The presence of the attendant child reinforces themes of familial intimacy and foreshadows the future relationship between Christ and John the Baptist as prophetic forerunner.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil on panel, Raphael employs a restrained palette of muted browns and soft blues, allowing the figures’ gentle expressions to dominate. The delicate modeling of flesh and the subtle chiaroscuro create a sense of three‑dimensional presence, while the smooth brushwork reflects the High Renaissance emphasis on clarity and balanced composition.

History & Provenance

The work entered the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp’s holdings in the early twentieth century, having previously been part of private collections in Europe. Its attribution to Raphael has been confirmed through stylistic analysis and documentation, situating it among the artist’s mature period of religious commissions.