Madonna and Child with Seraphim and Cherubim

The "Madonna and Child with Seraphim and Cherubim," also known as the Butler Madonna, is a religious painting attributed to Andrea Mantegna around 1460. Created using tempera on wood, the work measures 44.1 by 28.6 cm. Despite poor conservation and over-harsh restoration, especially to Mary's face, some art historians doubt its authenticity as an autograph piece, suggesting it may be by a follower of Mantegna. Its provenance is unknown before 1891, when it appeared in London, before being acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1926. The use of gold accents highlights its luminous quality, typical of Early renaissance religious art.