'Madonna of the Goldfinch' by Raphael

The 'Madonna of the Goldfinch' is an on-wood oil painting. It was painted in 1505–1506 by the Italian Renaissance artist Raphael.

Raphael, with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, forms the trinity's greatest masters of the Renaissance, although Raphael is much younger than the other two artists.

Young Raphael was influenced by Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. In this masterpiece, the pyramid composition reflects that he was deeply impressed by Leonardo's "Virgin and Child with St Anne" and the "Madonna of Bruges" by Michelangelo.

In this painting, Raphael places three figures, Mary, Christ, and the young John the Baptist, together, forming an almost regular triangle.

The Madonna dresses in red and blue, in which red signifies the passion of Christ and blue is used to represent the church. Infant John holds a goldfinch in his hand, and Infant Christ reaches out to touch it. The background is naturally diverse, and yet all calmly together, they frame the central subject taking place.

In this video, Bernardo Randell, an expert in Florentine art will introduce more about the painting.