Writing Assignment - Visual Analysis

Madonna and Christ Child with Infant Saint John the Baptist and Three Angels

The European Art Gallery of the Birmingham Museum of Art is home to an exquisitely detailed painting by the workshop of Domenico Ghirlandaio The painting , titled , Madonna and Christ Child with Infant Saint John the Baptist and Three Angels ' is a circular tempera work on panel and measures about 85 .4 cm in diameter . This circular rendition of the painting is known as the tondo ' format which was usually the format preferred when the painting was to be displayed

in homes . The painting while attributed to the abovementioned workshop , is believed to be created by the brother-in-law of Domenico Ghirlandaio , Mainardi , because of the quality of its rendition

The painting features incredibly detailed portrayals of the Virgin Mary wearing a red velvet dress and a silken blue cape . She holds the infant Jesus in her right arm while he sits on her right knee . Her left hand reaches out to caress the face of the young John the Baptist who is portrayed wearing sackcloth . In the background are four baroque windows through which distant scenery of a town , presumably Nazareth , and a body of water , possibly the River Jordan , could be seen . Also to the right of the Virgin Mary are three like-faced angels all wearing royal garb and just in the foreground are two tall staffs with flowers blooming at their top ends , perhaps placed there by the artist to symbolize St Joseph , the foster father...