Madonna and Child (Salting Madonna) 1460

Antonello da Messina painted this Madonna and Child, also known as the Salting Madonna, around 1460, on a wooden panel. Note the crown being held above Mary’s head by angels. In the medieval imagination, the crown represents both earthly and divine power, often seen as a symbol of authority and sovereignty. Consider its echoes in ancient Roman laurel wreaths for emperors, or even the headdresses of pharaohs. The gesture of angels crowning Mary, a motif that connects the earthly and the divine, reappears through centuries, signifying Mary's role as Queen of Heaven. This motif stirs deep emotions. The act of crowning, embedded in our collective memory, carries a powerful, subconscious message of reverence. This image speaks to the enduring human quest for meaning, constantly reshaping itself across time.