Alessandro di Mariano di Vanni Filipepi, aka Sandro Botticelli (c. 1445-1510), Madonna and Child Enthroned between St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist (1485).

Botticelli has his Madonna sitting on an elaborate, stepped throne with St. John the Baptist standing to her right. The saint, holding a reed cross, points at the Christ Child and gazes out of the picture plane. St. John the Evangelist stands to the left of the Madonna and child. The Madonna glances at the babe and appears to be opening her bodice in preparation to feeding the child. The Christ child sits, unsupported on his mother’s lap and looks out of the picture plane.

Pietro Vannucci aka Pietro Perugino (c. 1446-1523), Madonna and Child Enthroned with St. John the Baptist and St. Sebastian (1493).

Perugino laid some of the groundwork for the High Renaissance and was the teacher of Raphael. His Madonna sits rather casually on the throne, gazing into the distance as she supports the babe. The Christ Child looks at St. John the Baptist. St. John looks at the Christ Child and points at him. The throne has a simple, rectangular, carved base. St. Sebastian stands to the left of the Madonna and Child.