“Cairn” depicts a detail from Caravaggio’s “Madonna di Loreto” (ca.1604 - 1606) painted on a sculpture of stacked rocks. Depicted by Caravaggio as a common woman and child with only...
“Cairn” depicts a detail from Caravaggio’s “Madonna di Loreto” (ca.1604 - 1606) painted on a sculpture of stacked rocks. Depicted by Caravaggio as a common woman and child with only a slight halo to sanctify them, this rendition of the Virgin and Child emerges from the shadows, casting an image upon the faces of the rocks. Mimicking the form of the two figures, the rocks of the cairn balance precariously. They seem to almost topple over yet miraculously maintain balance through the plumb line of Virgin’s figure.