PicturingMary.com 1 | P a g e

Sandro Botticelli’s Madonna and Child (Madonna del libro), 1480-1481

Reflection There is more to this image than what initially meets the

eye. This saying is true not only about this masterpiece but also

about the masterpiece of every human person. Take a moment

to see the similarities in the hand gestures between the Mother

Mary and the Child Jesus. Notice how their hair color and faces

are similar. Jesus is truly the Son of His mother in her likeness

and Mary is truly, as is the case for all people, made in the

image and likeness of her God.

Now, look deeper into the painting to see what the child is

holding in his hand and what he has around his arm. The child

holds three golden items that look like nails and has a crown of

thorns around his arm. These are symbols that point to his

future suffering on the Cross. One could wonder at the scene –

was Mary reading from Scripture? One can faintly make out the name of God in the writing on the book’s

pages. Why does there seem to have been a pause in the moment they were having, that turned Jesus’ head

toward His mother to look at her expression? What was Mary thinking about? What was Botticelli, as the

painter, seeking to tell us by letting us see this precise moment?

We recall that Jesus is also the Word of God who is revealed to us in Scripture. Scripture is the revelation to

us of God’s loving plan to save us in history. In this painting, also entitled Madonna of the Book, we are

reminded that Mary pondered God’s word and deeds in her heart. Christ, as the Word of God, eternally

spoken by the Father, is revealed to us by the gift of Mary’s own consent to the words of the angel at the

Annunciation. Mary believed the words that were spoken to her by the angel. Mary believes the Word of

God. Mary contemplates the Word in the silence of her heart. It is in the depths of one’s heart that the

encounter with God takes place. It is from the depths of the heart and the interior life of the person that

genuine love is offered and received.

Sandro Botticelli

Madonna and Child (Madonna del

libro), 1480-1481

Tempera and gold on wood panel

22 7/8 x 15 5/8 in. (58 x 39.6 cm)

Museo Poldi Pezzoli, Milan

View online at the National Museum for

Women in the Arts exhibit Picturing

Mary: Woman, Mother, Idea

Click here to view painting

PicturingMary.com 2 | P a g e

In this painting, we are reminded of the intimacy of love that each of us are called to have with Jesus who is

present to us, as Catholics believe, both in the words of Scripture and in His Flesh and Blood through the Holy

Eucharist. We recall again the three nails and the crown of thorns which are painted in soft and golden colors,

rather than the harsh colors that they were in reality. This could remind us that authentic love is refined in the

fire of sacrifice and is truly purified like refined gold. Genuine charity remains, abides and endures all things.

In Mary, we see an example of a woman who lived true charity with her life, since she loved God above all

else. In Jesus, we see the greatest love of all, for His very Being is Love. “God is love.” (1 Jn 4:8) Do we

know His Love? Do we seek His Love?

Let us take a moment to join Mary, as in this painting, in reflecting on the gift of Jesus and the grace that His

suffering on the Cross will bring to us. Let us open our hearts to the love of God, which He desires to pour

into our hearts. (Rom 5:5)

Let us ask God for the grace to live, in imitation of Mary, the virtue of charity, so that we may love God above

all and love our neighbor as ourselves.

Living the Encounter You have encountered genuine beauty today in Sandro Botticelli’s masterpiece, Madonna and Child

(Madonna del libro). Chose to live your encounter with beauty and share it with others. Living beautifully is

living virtuously. Reflect upon the virtue of charity expressed in Mary’s life. Recall that the inner life of God

is an endless exchange of Love which is poured out upon each of us as grace. Ask yourself:

How do you allow the love of God to be poured into your heart and your life? How do you seek to give this

love to others? Ask God to remove and heal anything in your life that is getting in the way of your ability to

receive His love and love in return. This is ultimate meaning of life – to be open to love and to love in return,

above all, in our relationship with God. Really take this to heart. Offer to God a prayer in your own words to

help you live the virtue of charity.

Act of Charity: O my God, I love You above all things with my whole heart and soul because You are all good

and worthy of all my love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of You. I forgive all who have injured me

and ask pardon of all whom I have injured. Amen.

PicturingMary.com 3 | P a g e

Deepen Your Encounter After you leave the exhibit, return to your encounter with beauty and remember what you learned about the

virtue of charity. Take a moment to read the Scripture passage from 1 John 4:7-12 and reflect upon how you

can continue to live your encounter by practicing the virtue of charity in your life.

You've encountered beauty in Mary and her virtues. Continue to live your encounter and live beautifully for

others.

Inform Your Encounter Read more about this Reflection from the Catechism: CCC, nos. 505, 1, 315, 1604, 27, 355, 460

Learn more about practicing the virtue of charity: CCC, nos. 1822, 1827, 1828, 1829, 1844

Scripture passages related to the virtue of charity: John 15:9-10; 1 John 4:8;

Read about saints who practiced the virtue of charity: St. John the Evangelist; St. Francis Xavier

How is devotion to Mary different from worshiping Mary?

Learn about True Devotion to Mary

Mary’s Unique Role as Intercessor

Scripture Directs Prayer to Mary

Standards/USCCB Doctrinal Elements of a Curriculum Framework for Young People related to this

reflection

Unique role of Mary, Mother of God including the Annunciation and Mary’s “yes” (CCC, nos.484-487);

Christ as the Son of Mary, from the moment of the Incarnation (CCC, 486); Mary as an unparalleled

recipient of God’s grace: Immaculate Conception; Assumption (CCC, nos. 490-494, 966); Mary and her

role in the life and prayer of the Church (CCC, nos. 484-511, 721-726, 963-972, 829); Universal call to

holiness (CCC, nos.826, 2012-2014, 2028, 2045, 2013); Accepting and living the grace of redemption by

practicing the virtues of faith, hope and love (CCC, nos. 1803, 1812-1832); Theological virtue of charity

(CCC, nos. 2093-2094). Types of virtue, (CCC, nos. 1804-1832); Prayer in the life of a believer: lectio

divina (CCC, nos. 1177, 2708); Jesus Christ reveals the Father to us, who we are, and our call to

PicturingMary.com 4 | P a g e

holiness; By becoming man, and by his Death and Resurrection, Jesus Christ unites us to God (CCC, nos.

461-464); We become the free adopted children of the Father through Baptism (Gal 4; CCC, nos. 1265-

1270); The Word became flesh (the Incarnation) (CCC, nos. 525-528, 456-478) to save us by reconciling

us with God, who loved us and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins (CCC, no.457); that we might

come to know the depth of God’s love for us (CCC, 458); to be our model of holiness (CCC, no 459); to

make us partakers of the divine nature (CCC, nos.457-460);

Share your Encounter What did your encounter bring? Share your experience and inspirations with others. #MeetMary

PicturingMary.com is funded by private individuals who support the NMWA exhibit and offer the website materials for visitors to deepen their encounter with Mary as a woman, mother and idea. The reflections were written by a woman religious, Sr. John Paul Maher, O.P., who is a member of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist.