The Virgin and Child with Saints Jerome and Francis (after Raphael's painting in the Gemaldegalerie, Staatliche Museum, Berlin, No 145) 1500 - 1520

Editor: This panel, "The Virgin and Child with Saints Jerome and Francis," an anonymous work after Raphael, is quite striking. The figures have a compelling sense of gravity. What symbols stand out to you? Curator: Note how the artist has adapted Raphael's original composition, maintaining the pyramidal arrangement that emphasizes stability and divine order. Do you see the significance of Saint Jerome's presence and the symbolism of Saint Francis's gesture toward the Christ Child? Editor: I see Jerome's scholarly association and Francis's humility, but how do they connect with the Virgin? Curator: These are potent visual reminders of faith, learning, and service, each echoing the Virgin’s own devotion and her son’s destiny. The painting becomes a meditation on the path to salvation, a visual sermon, if you will. Editor: Fascinating! It's like the painting invites contemplation on multiple levels. Curator: Precisely. It reminds us how art can serve as a powerful repository of cultural memory.