The nonchalant cherubs of Raphael’s “Sistine Madonna” (1513) have become two of the most ubiquitous faces of Renaissance art in popular culture. Part of their charm lies in their aloof, innocent expressions. These seem detached and independent of the masterpiece that inspired them.
It’s not surprising, then, to discover that the two were a late addition to the painting—an outer layer in the compositional process. There are no confirmed sources about what inspired the cherubs, but accounts say that Raphael saw two children peeking through a window and so loved their expressions that he added them to the painting.
