Virgin and Child on a Cloud

Antonio Balestra

National Gallery of Art

The image depicts a seated woman holding an infant in a half-length portrait. The woman is turned slightly and looking down at the child in her lap. She has a calm expression, flowing hair, and is draped in a large garment. She is sitting on a cloud-like structure surrounded by cherubs. The cherubs have youthful faces and wings, some appearing to float or rest against clouds. The background shows textured clouds, and there is text below the image that reads "Dilectus meus mihi et ego illi" along with the artist's name and the date 1702.