Sandro Botticelli’s The Rockefeller Madonna (early 1490s) is a charming depiction of the Virgin and Child seated outdoors on a parapet. The Virgin cradles the nude Christ Child, who leans forward towards his kneeling cousin, the young Saint John the Baptist, patron saint of Florence, who clasps his hands in adoration. The figures are set against a sunny landscape featuring jagged rocks and a winding river in the distance. A key feature is the gilded relief on the parapet—a rare antique quotation in Botticelli’s work—which highlights the artist’s classical interest. The painting is noted for the Virgin’s sinuous grace and flowing drapery, characteristic of Botticelli’s early 1490s style, and was created for private devotional use.