Francesco Messina - Madonna and Child

The iconography of motherhood is closely linked to the subject of the Madonna and Child. It is probably one of the most popular iconographies in the history of both Western and Eastern art. The Madonna and Child appears since the dawn of medieval painting and remained a constant subject as long as religious themes dominated artistic production (that is, until the 19th century, when themes inspired by everyday life began to be introduced).

Francesco Messina's research focuses on the study of the human body, which is the central focus of his sculptures. As we can see from this bas-relief, he has an exquisitely classical vision, dictated by principles of naturalistic rendering, harmony, and balance. These principles are already evident in the symmetrical and balanced composition, with the two figures enclosed in a unified, almost geometric pattern. The representation is based on a clear emphasis on plasticity, modeled softly and with refined anatomical precision. Even the movements and twists of the bodies are rendered in a natural manner.

Francesco Messina was born in Linguaglossa in 1900 and died in Milan in 1995. He was primarily a sculptor. He created important Italian monuments, such as the Stations of the Cross in San Giovanni Rotondo; the Dying Horse of the RAI; and the Monument to Pius XII in St. Peter's Basilica. His works are held in numerous museums both in Italy and abroad. Critics compare him to Manzù, Sassu, and Marini for his exploration of the human figure, contextualized according to a contemporary sensibility.

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