Madonna and Child in Glory appearing to St Stephen and three other Saints
1763
oil
From the collection of National Galleries Scotland
1763
oil
From the collection of National Galleries Scotland
This painting shows a central scene of the Madonna and Child surrounded by clouds, with the Madonna holding the baby Jesus. The Madonna is dressed in a blue robe with a golden halo behind her head, while the baby Jesus is wrapped in a white cloth. In the foreground, four saints are depicted in various poses, looking up at the Madonna and Child. One saint is kneeling and another is standing with his arms outstretched. The background of the painting is a bright yellow, with clouds and cherubs surrounding the central scene. The painting features a dramatic use of chiaroscuro, with strong contrasts between light and dark. To learn more about this technique, look up "chiaroscuro".
