Altarpiece : Virgin Mary with Christ 


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The main theme of the altarpiece is the Holy Eucharist.

The theme extends to the panels on either side of the central one.

On the right, the Virgin Mary holds the infant Christ who raises his hand to bless, while on the left  St. Clare holds up a monstrance in a gesture of benediction : the infant Christ and the monstrance containing the Host are evidently meant to echo one another, affirming the doctrine that the consecrated Host is the body of Christ. The panel showing the Virgin Mary and the infant Christ, with a violin-playing angel seated on the steps of their throne, recalls several 15th and 16th century Venetian paintings of similar subjects.

 

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