Madonna and Child with Saints 1500 - 1515

Galeazzo Mondella, called Moderno, created this bronze plaquette, "Madonna and Child with Saints," in Italy around the late 15th or early 16th century. The Renaissance was a time of rediscovering classical values, yet it also entrenched social hierarchies. Moderno's work reflects these tensions; the Madonna, central to Christian faith, embodies purity and motherhood, yet her depiction here is also tied to expectations of female submission and piety. The intimate portrayal of Mary and the infant Jesus invites viewers into a tender scene, but this emotional connection also served to reinforce the church's teachings. While Moderno's piece is beautiful, we can also consider how it perpetuates certain ideals about women and power. What does it mean to see the Madonna as a symbol, both of comfort and constraint, within a society undergoing profound change?