Madonna in Adoration of the Sleeping Child 1475

Giovanni Bellini created this panel painting titled, *Madonna in Adoration of the Sleeping Child*, sometime in the late 15th century. Notice how the Virgin Mary is depicted with her head bowed, hands clasped in prayer, and eyes downcast toward the infant Jesus. This creates a visual pathway that directs our gaze from the pinnacle of maternal love to the vulnerable form of the sleeping child. The composition is structured around a series of soft curves and gentle diagonals which give the scene a feeling of serenity. Consider how the arrangement of the figures, the soft coloring and the landscape background serve not just aesthetic purposes but also function as signs. Bellini's masterful rendering invites viewers to engage with the themes of divinity, humanity and devotion. Let us not forget that art is forever changing as the viewer brings a unique lens to the work.