You recognize this portion of a famous work of art. What is it called, and who created it?
A. Madonna and Child
by Sandro Botticelli
B. The Sistine Madonna
by Raphael
C. Madonna and Child
by Filippo Lippi
D. Madonna of the Pear
by Albrecht Dürer
E. Madonna of the Magnificat
by Sandro Botticelli
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Answer: (B)
The Sistine Madonna, painted by Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino (1483–1520)—also known as Raphael—was commissioned by Pope Julius II for the high altar of the San Sisto monastery church in Piacenza, Italy. Piacenza had just joined the Papal States, and Julius had familial connections to San Sisto, so scholars assume he had Raphael paint this work in celebration of the union. Since Pope Julius II died in 1513, the work likely was completed before then.
One of the most renowned paintings of the Renaissance, it depicts a vision appearing to the two saints worshiped at San Sisto—Pope Sixtus II (left) and St. Barbara (right)—of Mary bringing the Christ child down from the divine realms into the earthly one. The two famous cherubs, which are arguably better known than the painting itself in modern pop culture, were actually added last—most likely for compositional reasons.
In 1754, the painting was acquired by the Dresden gallery, and it remained in Germany until World War II. Hidden away in a tunnel in Saxon Switzerland (to prevent damage from bombings), the painting was discovered and moved to Moscow by the Soviet army. Following the death of Stalin, the Soviet government decided to return the painting to Germany in 1955. After a brief stop-over in Berlin, in 1956 the Sistine Madonna was returned to the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister in Dresden, where it remains to this day.
You recognize this portion of a famous work of art. What is it called, and who created it?
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