The Benois Madonna

work by Leonardo da Vinci

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June 30, 2026

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The Benois Madonna is an early work by Leonardo da Vinci, painted between 1478 and 1480. This painting depicts the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child in a tender and charming manner. The child Jesus is shown reaching for a flower held by Mary, conveying a sweet and expressive mood that moved beyond mere technique. This artwork is recognized for its emotional depth and is a notable example of Leonardo's early talent in conveying feeling.1

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Leonardo da Vinci
The Benois Madonna
talent, notably The Benois Madonna (1478–80). Leonardo succeeded in giving the traditional mother-and-child theme a new, unusually charming, and expressive mood by showing the child Jesus reaching, in a sweet and tender manner, for the flower in Mary’s hand.
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talent, notably The Benois Madonna (1478–80). Leonardo succeeded in giving the traditional mother-and-child theme a new, unusually charming, and expressive mood by showing the child Jesus reaching, in a sweet and tender manner, for the flower in Mary’s hand.
Read More