Virgin and Child Enthroned

Virgin and Child Enthroned by Battista di Biagio Sanguigni: Rather than depicting a single moment in time, this gold-ground painting symbolically encapsulates Christ.

What to notice

In Virgin and Child Enthroned, start with classical, figurative, complex. Then look closely at this museum-described detail: Seated on a rich throne, the monumental Virgin holds the Christ child.

Discover

Rather than depicting a single moment in time, this gold-ground painting symbolically encapsulates Christ. Seated on a rich throne, the monumental Virgin holds the Christ child. Above, the risen Christ is seen in heaven holding a book, inscribed with the alpha and omega, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, signifying Christ’s role as the beginning and end of all things.