Château de Chantilly, Raphael, Madonna of Loreto

The Virgin Mary, dressed in a red gown and blue mantle, tenderly lifts a sheer veil over the reclining Christ Child, who reaches upward with both hands. To the right, Saint Joseph emerges from the dark background, leaning on a staff and observing the scene. Thin, circular golden halos hover above the heads of the figures, and the lighting emphasizes the soft textures of the skin and fabric.

Commissioned by Pope Julius II, this work reflects the High Renaissance synthesis of Christian theology and Neoplatonic ideals concerning divine beauty. The veil is a specific iconographic element that serves as a prefiguration of the Shroud of Turin, linking the mystery of the Incarnation to the future Passion.