Alessandro Botticelli, 1446-1510
“Madonna of the Book ”, circa 1483

The Madonna orthe Book was created by the studio of Italian Renaissance artist, Alessandro Botticelli, circa 1483. Its gentle design depicts Mary with Child looking upon the Book of Hours, a popular book of prayers for laymen in the 13th through 16th centuries. As a symbol of his future passion, the Christ Child is holding three nails and a crown of thorns.

Botticelli applied great detail to every aspect of this scene, giving the painting a still-life and tangible quality. The masterpiece was painted in tempera made from egg yolk on a wood surface, as was done before conventional paint on canvas. Botticelli used gold filigree to refine the objects and he embedded his monogram in the Book. An unusual light casts a mystical glow around his subjects, adding to the work’s spiritual expression.

This painting contains all the elements characteristic of this period of Botticelli’s art. The style and composition are distinctive and consistent with his other identified works. In his workshop in Florence, it common for Botticelli to have his students participate in developing his paintings, contributing parts and duplicating his style. This technique makes it difficult to authenticate his art with complete certainty Today a version of this painting is housed in the Museo Poldi Pezzolo in Milan, Italy.

A native of Florence, Botticelli (1446-l5l0) became a popular and successful painter. His patrons included some of the most distinguished families and his works could be found in he cities finest churches. In I481 Botticelli was- one of several artists chosen to go to Rome to decorate the walls of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. When be returned to Florence, high demand for portrait commissions caused his shop’s celebrity to peak. He produced few recorded works in later years and died at age 65.

Madonna del Libro is on Ioan at the McCreless Art Gallery of the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Library at.the University of the Incarnate Word.