Madonna and Child 1485 - 1495

Benedetto da Maiano carved this relief of the Madonna and Child from marble in Florence during the 15th century. Marble was the quintessential Renaissance material, and sculptors would have spent much time selecting the perfect block. Once chosen, the artist, or more likely, a team of artisans, would have used saws, chisels, and rasps to bring forth the forms within the stone. Consider the weight of the material itself, over 100 pounds. We can only imagine how much effort was involved in extracting the raw material from the quarry, transporting it to the workshop, and then manipulating it into such fluid shapes. Note the complex, subtle textures, from the polished skin of the figures to the patterned background. The creation of these textures shows Da Maiano’s mastery of carving, which would have taken years of practice to perfect, and the smooth surface enhances the artwork’s devotional and aesthetic appeal. Paying attention to the labor and skill involved in the making of this piece allows us to appreciate it as more than just a religious image. It’s also a testament to human ingenuity and the transformative power of craft.