Simbologia della Madonna d'Alba - Raffaello - I SIMBOLI NELL'ARTE.

The Alba Madonna was painted by Raphael around 1511 and is now housed at the National Gallery of Art in Washington Maria is sitting on the ground leaning against a tree trunk She has the young Jesus in her arms while with her hand she holds a book marking the page with her index finger It was as if he had paused for a moment to contemplate the divine mystery unfolding beside him The book is a symbol of divine wisdom of which Mary is the seat and throne because she received Jesus the incarnate wisdom Next to him is San Giovannino who holds a cross his typical attribute along with the camel's skin that Jesus grasps It might seem like a children's game but it is the mystical representation of Christ's acceptance of his sacrificial mission to obtain humanity's redemption The name comes from the fact that it was part of the Alba Duke's collection in Madrid