Botticelli “Madonna of the Pomegranate” at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence

Botticelli (1445-1510) “Madonna of the Pomegranate”

Painting - Tempera on Wood (118 x 118 cm) 1487

Sandro Botticelli, The Virgin of the Pomegranate, the infant Jesus and six angels, 1487, Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy

The Virgin of the Pomegranate In this work of the « Madonna of the Pomegranate », also known as the « Madonna of the Pomegranate Tree » or « Madonna della Melagrana » in Italian, Botticelli presents the Virgin in a tondo, a circular painting in which the Madonna is at the centre, holding the Baby Jesus in her arms.

The Baby Jesus and the Virgin are holding a pomegranate together, with its blood-red seeds foreshadowing Christ's destiny.

The Virgin is seated facing us and the Baby Jesus is blessing us with his right hand.

Six angels surround the Child Jesus and the Virgin, the wings of three of them are clearly visible.

The two angels on either side have their left arm resting on a rosary of roses suspended behind the Virgin, while they hold branches of fleur-de-lis with their right hand.

The Virgin of the Pomegranate On the angel's stole to the left of the painting, we can read the words of the Annunciation, repeated three times, "Ave Grazia Piena".

The two angels immediately behind them are holding an open book of the Gospels.

The Virgin is illuminated by a halo of divine light above her.

The Virgin's cloak is a deep blue, while her dress is purple, the same colour as the pomegranate seeds, red colours that are also found in the rosary of roses.

The Virgin of the Pomegranate This absolutely superb painting shows the purity and grace of Mary, emphasised by the heavenly and unreal atmosphere that it exudes.

Mary, the Child Jesus and the angels are in a world different from ours.

The Virgin, like the Child Jesus, are elsewhere, both lost in their thoughts.

Among the six angels surrounding the Virgin, two of them are looking at us, observing us; they are the only link between us and the eternal.

Virgin with the Pomegranate

Madonna of Pomegranate