Madonna and Child 1450

This fresco, "Madonna and Child," painted in 1450 by Andrea del Castagno, depicts a close-up of the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child. The piece is a fragment from a larger composition and shows the artist's mastery of form and detail in the Early Renaissance style. The figures are rendered with a sense of solidity and naturalism, typical of the period. While the work is incomplete, Castagno's characteristic use of light and shadow, or chiaroscuro, is evident in the subtle rendering of Mary's drapery. This detail exemplifies the artistic innovations that emerged in Florence during the 15th century.