Virgin and Child with An Angel 

Francesco del Cossa painted "Virgin and Child with an Angel" in the 15th century, a time where religious art was often more about conveying symbolic meaning through visual form. Notice how the composition is structured around a central vertical axis, with the figures arranged in a pyramidal shape, creating a sense of stability and order. The rose bush in the background is not just decorative; it's a field of flat shapes, each flower precisely rendered as a sign, a semiotic marker for the Virgin Mary, suggesting purity and love. The artist uses color to direct our gaze. The contrast between Mary's dark cloak and pale skin emphasizes her presence, while the halos, rendered in gold leaf, mark the divine status of Mary and Jesus. There is something particularly arresting about the gaze of the angel. It challenges you, making you a participant in the scene.