The artwork known as “The Esterhazy Madonna” is attributed to the master Renaissance artist Raphael, dated approximately between 1507 and 1508. This religious painting, crafted with a combination of oil, panel, tempera, and possibly later transferred to canvas, measures 29 by 21.5 centimeters and epitomizes the High Renaissance art movement. Currently, the artwork is part of the esteemed collection at the Budapest Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest, Hungary.
The artwork depicts the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus, with a young John the Baptist positioned at her side. The Virgin is adorned in a richly colored blue mantle over a red dress, a conventional representation of her purity and motherhood. The Christ Child reaches out playfully to His young cousin John, who is shown with a small reed cross, foreshadowing his future role in Christ’s life. The figures are set against a serene landscape that includes verdant hills, a meandering river, and architectural structures under a soft, blue sky, typical of the idyllic backdrops favored by Renaissance painters to signify the harmonious blend of the divine with the earthly realm. The gentle expressions and graceful forms highlight Raphael’s expertise in capturing both the divinity and humanity of his subjects.