Madonna and Child 1464

Giovanni Bellini painted this Madonna and Child, now in Milan’s Sforza Castle, with oil on wood, capturing an intimate moment between mother and son. Dominating the scene are the halos, signifying holiness, and the fruit held by the child. Consider the apple, or perhaps a pear, a symbol laden with meaning. In Christian iconography, it often represents the forbidden fruit from the Garden of Eden, embodying sin and humanity’s fall from grace. Yet, held by the Christ Child, it transforms. It becomes a promise of redemption. We see echoes of this motif throughout art history, from medieval altarpieces to Renaissance paintings, each era imbuing the fruit with its nuanced understanding of salvation. The emotional weight of the image rests in Mary’s gaze, a blend of sorrow and tenderness. It speaks to our collective memory, evoking the universal theme of maternal love. It invites us to contemplate the cyclical nature of sin, redemption, and the enduring power of hope.