The subject of the painting unfolds on three levels: a glory of angels at the top; Mary at the centre, offering the Child blessing; and, at the bottom left, the donor in the customary position of worship, shown in profile and kneeling with his cap in hand, while he receives the blessing. Traces of a second donor, symmetrical to the first one, emerged at the bottom right during recent restoration work. This detail is confirmed by the scene that appears to the left of the Virgin and Child: through a rocky arch we see an urban landscape in the background and, in front of this, two Christian knights being attacked by a Turk on horseback. The entire painting can thus probably be considered as a sort of votive offering for salvation from an attack: unfortunately, due to the damage caused to the painted surface, the portrait of only one of the two donors has survived.
From May 15 to 27, the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana in Milan hosts Art in Respect – A dialogue, a solo exhibition by artist and couturier Filippo Sorcinelli.
