The Virgin and Child on a Crescent

Albrecht Altdorfer

National Gallery of Art

The image shows a woman standing upright, holding a child in her arms. The child has a serene expression, and both have halos around their heads. The woman's hair flows down in loose waves, and she is dressed in garments that drape elegantly. Around them are cherubs or angels, some holding a crown above the woman's head. The background is filled with clouds, giving the scene a heavenly or supernatural atmosphere, with the figures surrounded by radiant lines.