Madonna with child Saint John and two angels adoring the Child – Musée des Beaux-Arts – Nancy
The work dates back to 1505, and the composition vaguely recalls the famous Virgin of the Rocks by Leonardo da Vinci: the Madonna is in the center, the gaze gently turned towards saint John, who, in profile, kneels down to the Child Jesus, sitting on a cloth resting on the ground, the right hand raised in a sign of blessing.
On the sides, slightly behind the central group, two angels in adoration kneel while attending the scene. All the figures are characterized by the sweet features typical in Perugino’s works, while the heavily draped garments give a sense of calm monumentality to the bodies.
Unlike the aforementioned work by Leonardo Da Vinci, this event takes place outdoors, in a naturalistic setting, typical of in Perugino’s production: the landscape in the background is in fact free from roughness, and rolling hills fade towards the horizon, creating a sense of an infinite space thanks to the effect of the aerial perspective.
The work is currently preserved at the Musée des Beaux Arts de Nancy.
