 One of Raphael's most famous works, this painting takes its name from the church of San Sisto in Piacenza. Raphael painted it as the altarpiece for that church in 1513-1514. The work depicts a cloud-borne Mary and the baby Christ, flanked by two saints. It’s the two cherubs at the bottom of the canvas that have made the painting famous. One looks above with his chin in his hand, the other looks off to the side with his head resting on crossed forearms, and both look bored out of their minds! Their sulkiness makes them stand out from the typical rosy-cheeked cherubim of other artists. It is thought that their distinctive and certainly more expressive look may have been Raphael’s way of making fun of his friend and competitor Michelangelo. |