Madonna of the Stairs

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This plaster cast is a direct replica of the original marble Madonna della Scala (Madonna of the Stairs). It's one of Michelangelo's earliest works, created when he was about seventeen years old. The work is an obvious tribute to Donatello's stiacciato technique and scale pattern with pronounced steps and handrails. This can be seen in the Feast of Herod in Lille, which opens up a dramatic path by spatially smashing traditional boundaries. The waxy, translucent slab is reminiscent of alabaster. Carved in "rilievo schiacciato," it showcases Michelangelo's exploration of quattrocento techniques. Both in form and content, we see the influence of Greek "stelai." The Madonna's face is in classical profile, and she sits on a square block, which is Michelangelo's hallmark. He chose not to show the Child's face but placed him in an odd position, either nursing or sleeping and encased in drapery, suggesting protection. In the background, four youths handle a long cloth, identified as either the one used to lower Christ from the cross or a shroud. In Madonna of the Stairs, Michelangelo uses the chisel more like a pencil to create the illusion of the Madonna's gown as it barely rises from the background. By subtly dissolving the barrier between object and background, he introduces dimension and depth as mere suggestions. The classical Roman character of Mary's profile finds its roots in fifth-century Greek grave designs. Extraordinary in Madonna of the Stairs is the fully mature, muscular power of the Christ Child's right arm and back, a pose that would be echoed in the sculpture Day in the Medici Chapel. This scan was produced in collaboration between The Statens Museum for Kunst and Scan the World for the SMK-Open project. Every model produced from this initiative is available under an open source license.