Maria in aanbidding voor het kind, tondo after 1427

This terracotta tondo, made by Antonio Rossellino, presents a scene of Mary adoring the infant Jesus, framed within a decorative border. The composition centers on the figures of Mary and the child, rendered in soft, muted tones that evoke a sense of gentle reverence. The delicate carving of the figures, with their smooth surfaces and flowing drapery, contrasts with the more textured floral border. Rossellino’s choice of terracotta and the tondo format relates to the humanist interests of the Renaissance. The circular shape, reminiscent of ancient medallions, encloses the sacred scene within a defined and harmonious space. The structure is reinforced by the symmetry of Mary’s posture and the positioning of the infant. The border, teeming with flora, does more than simply decorate. It acts as a semiotic frame that invites reflection on themes of nature, divinity, and cyclical renewal. The tension between the tactile quality of the terracotta and the idealized forms reflects broader philosophical concerns about the relationship between the material world and divine ideals. This juxtaposition functions as a discourse on the very nature of representation and belief.