Mary with the Child, John the Baptist and a Holy Boy (Madonna Terranuova)

A circular composition featuring the Madonna and Child set against a serene landscape with distant architecture and rocky cliffs. The infant Christ grasps a parchment scroll that unfurls toward John the Baptist, who holds a slender reed cross, while a third child watches from the right. The figures are rendered with soft, atmospheric modeling, creating a sense of tranquil balance and harmony.

Painted during Raphael's formative years in Florence, the tondo (circular) format reflects the Neoplatonic preoccupation with geometric perfection and the circle as a symbol of divine unity. This artistic choice aligns with the intellectual atmosphere of the Platonic Academy and the writings of Marsilio Ficino, who viewed beauty and symmetry as terrestrial reflections of the divine order.