Painters of all times have been fascinated with the key venerated figures of Christianity. Therefore, one can easily find plenty of depictions of Christian saints, angels, and other dominant personas of the Christian world in the artworks of all periods. Here, we examine the most famous paintings of the Virgin Mary that appreciators of Christian art can view on display.

Top 4 Famous Paintings of the Virgin Mary

Here is the list of paintings depicting the Blessed Virgin Mary that every art aficionado is sure to know.

“The Madonna of Loreto” by Raphael

“The Madonna of Loreto” was created by one of the most prominent artists of the Renaissance period – Raphael. Painted in 1508-1509, it features the Virgin Mary playing with the Child Jesus in his cradle. The masterpiece has a complicated history of provenance and ownership, disappearing from public view for some years, but now, it is on display at the Musée Condé of Chantilly in France.

“The Madonna of the Magnificat” by Sandro Botticelli

“The Madonna of the Magnificat,” another prominent example of the Virgin Mary paintings, was created by Sandro Botticelli during the Italian Renaissance. It depicts the Virgin Mary holding a pomegranate in her left hand and writing the opening of the Magnificat in the book with her right hand. Mary holds the Child Jesus on her knees and is being crowned by two angels. The painting is currently held in the galleries of the Uffizi in Florence, Italy.

“Virgin of the Rocks” by Leonardo da Vinci

There are two paintings of the Virgin Mary titled “The Virgin of the Rocks” by Leonardo da Vinci: one held in the National Gallery in London and the other hanging in the Louvre. Da Vinci created these two-meter-long oil paintings to depict the Virgin Mary, the Child Jesus, and John the Baptist at an infant age. They are accompanied by an angel in a rocky, deserted place.

“The Madonna with the Blue Diadem” by Raphael and Gianfrancesco Penni

“The Madonna with the Blue Diadem” was created by Raphael and his pupil Gianfrancesco Penni circa 1512. The masterpiece features the Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus and the Infant St. John the Baptist. Since Mary is holding a veil over the head of Christ, the painting is often referred to as the Virgin with the Veil. It is currently on display in the Louvre.

There is not an exhaustive list of the famous paintings of the Virgin Mary, as her image has dominated Christian art for many centuries and has been interpreted in a variety of ways by creatives of all times. Thus, the Christian community has many images of the Virgin Mary available for viewing in galleries and museums across the globe today.