Artwork
Madonna of the Pomegranate
Madonna of the Pomegranate is a tempera painting by the High Renaissance artist Sandro Botticelli. It dates from 1494 and is held in the collection of the Uffizi Gallery.
About this work
Overview
Madonna of the Pomegranate is a tempera on panel painting from circa 1487, attributed to Sandro Botticelli, currently housed at the Uffizi in Florence.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts the Virgin Mary gently cradling the baby Jesus in her arms, simultaneously holding a pomegranate in her left hand, flanked symmetrically by angels.
Technique & Style
Executed in tempera grassa, the work exhibits a naturalistic style, characteristic of the Renaissance, lending the figures a realistic appearance.
History & Provenance
Created around 1487 by the prominent Florentine Renaissance artist Sandro Botticelli, the piece is now part of the Uffizi Gallery's collection in Florence.
Context
The circular tondo format of the painting, a common choice for domestic devotional art in Renaissance Italy, focuses viewer attention on the central religious figures.
Artist & collection
Artist
Sandro Botticelli was a Florentine painter who loved the drama of stories—myths, saints, and ancient tales.
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