Madonna of the Zodiac

It may have been produced for the historic chapel of San Nicola (now destroyed, with only one capital remaining), which for a long while was a private oratory of the Bertoldi family.

At the base is the inscription "SVIGLIA EL TUO FIGLIO DOLCE MADRE PIA / PER FAR INFIN FELICE L'ALMA MIA".

Inside a fake wooden frame, the Madonna looks out with the Child in her arms, between two hanging grapes with goldfinches on them, a double reference to the Eucharistic sacrifice of Jesus.

Behind Mary, who looks at her sleeping son with a sweet expression, we see one zodiac outlined in gold (partly lost), which alludes to Christ's role as "chronicler", that is, lord of cosmic Time.

Mary wears a blue cloak, a red robe and a white veil on her head, embossed with metallic folds as typical of the artist's style.