Madonna of Mercy

Madonna of Mercy, center panel Misericordia altarpiece. Piero della Francesca.

Piero della Francesca and others. Misericordia altarpiece. Commissioned 1445; still incomplete 1454. Panel, 8'8" x 10'6". Museo Civico, Sansepolcro.

Madonna of Mercy - A representation of the standing Virgin Mary protecting worshipers, usually kneeling, under her mantle. (In Italian, Madonna della Misericordia.) Hartt

Piero della Francesca is one of my favorite Renaissance painters and this particular Madonna is probably my favorite portrait of all. The model who posed for this painting also appears in many other Piero paintings, she has a captivating face in my opinion!