Raphael is one of the most well-known painters in history. His work was so influential that it inspired a whole new era of art, known as the Renaissance.
One of his earliest paintings was a portrait of his mother named “Madonna with Child.” This painting is currently housed at the National Gallery in London, and it’s thought to have been painted sometime between 1505 and 1506.
The painting is notable for its simple, yet elegant composition: it depicts Raphael’s mother holding a baby Jesus Christ who is laying on her lap. The mother’s face is turned toward the viewer, while Jesus looks away from us with his head resting on her shoulder. This detail makes it possible to see her face clearly while still keeping Jesus hidden from view.
Another aspect of this painting that makes it unique is that it was likely painted while Raphael was still a student; this means that he only had two years’ experience under his belt when he created this work! We can tell by looking at how carefully he paid attention to detail—the image shows us how much skill he had even early in his career.
