Abstract
The writer attempts to account for the facial expressions and presence of the two cherubs at the bottom of Raphael's Sistine Madonna (Staatliche Kunstsammlungen, Gemaldegalerie, Dresden, Germany). The painting depicts a heavenly vision of the Virgin and Child revealed by a curtain. At the bottom are the two cherubs, lounging and rolling their eyes in what at least verges on an expression of boredom. The writer discusses possible iconographic sources for the painting, particularly Fra Bartolommeo's altarpiece God the Father with Sts. Mary Magdalen and Catherine of Siena (Museo Nazionale di Villa Guinigi, Lucca, Italy). She considers the composition of Raphael's painting, arguing that the two putti function as expressive foils to the Christ Child; their lackadaisical expressions are meant to ensure that the viewer does not miss the significance of Christ's more attentive and respectful expression, one of bodily calm and facial solemnity precipitated by the implicit presence of God.
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