Madonna of the Candelabra

This circular painting depicts the Madonna looking down with a serene expression as she supports the infant Christ. Two large, ornate candelabra with flickering flames frame the central figures against a pitch-black background, while the faces of two angels emerge from the shadows at the edges. The composition emphasizes a balanced, classical harmony and the interplay between physical light and divine presence.

The use of candelabra, a motif borrowed from ancient Roman imperial and funerary art, reflects the Renaissance Neoplatonic synthesis of classical form and Christian mystery. The focus on light as a source of illumination connects to the metaphysics of light prevalent in the works of Marsilio Ficino, where physical light serves as a metaphor for the 'Lux Divina' or divine intelligence.