Madonna and Child 

Antoniazzo Romano painted this ‘Madonna and Child’ in the late fifteenth century using tempera and gold on wood. See how the Virgin Mary is depicted here, her dark veil contrasting with the radiant gold background, a visual language that speaks of divinity and reverence. Notice, especially, the thread she holds—an unusual and compelling motif that diverges from conventional depictions. This thread is not merely a strand; it’s a *fatum*, a symbol laden with the weight of destiny and the weaving of life. It echoes the ancient Greek concept of the *Moirai*, the goddesses of fate who spun, measured, and cut the thread of life. Like Ariadne's thread, this image offers a path through the labyrinth of human existence, connecting us to the mysteries of fate and the power of divine intervention, inviting contemplation on our own threads of destiny.