Virgin and Child c. 1450

Desiderio da Settignano’s “Virgin and Child” (c. 1450), a high-relief marble sculpture, captures the tender moment of a mother’s love. The Virgin Mary cradles the Christ Child, their faces gently touching. The meticulous detail, evident in the drapery and the delicate features of the figures, exemplifies the artist’s mastery of the Florentine Renaissance style. The piece’s small size, 61 × 43.2 cm, suggests it was intended for private devotion rather than public display. Today, it resides in The Art Institute of Chicago.