Madonna, Child and St.John the Baptist

The painting 'Madonna, Child and St.John the Baptist,' also known as "The Manchester Madonna," is an exquisite, albeit unfinished, religious painting preserved in the National Gallery, London. Attributed to Michelangelo, this creation dates back to his initial tenure in Rome circa 1497 and showcases the climactic infusion of Mannerism (late renaissance). The artwork, which came into prominence after its display at the Art Treasures Exhibition in Manchester in 1857, represents one of the three existing panel paintings credited to Michelangelo. The attribution faced skepticism throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, only to gradually attain consensus among scholars. Despite being unfinished, the piece's astounding details have been vividly encapsulated using chalk on paper.