Birth of the Virgin (detail) 1540

This detail from Domenico Beccafumi's "Birth of the Virgin" (1540) depicts the central figures of the composition: Saint Anne, mother of the Virgin Mary, cradling the newborn Mary. The piece exemplifies Beccafumi's mastery of Renaissance techniques, with a focus on naturalism in the figures' form and the delicate rendering of fabric folds. The scene evokes a sense of tenderness and devotion, drawing the viewer into the intimate moment of Mary's birth.