Madonna Surrounded by Seraphim and Cherubim | Jean Fouquet | c. 1455

Jean Fouquet’s Madonna Surrounded by Seraphim and Cherubim (c. 1455) presents a striking and unconventional vision of the Virgin Mary, blending religious symbolism with political and personal undertones. The Madonna, thought to be modeled after Agnès Sorel—mistress of King Charles VII—is depicted with an unnaturally pale, idealized beauty and a bare breast, suggesting both divine purity and maternal nourishment. Encircled by vivid red seraphim and blue cherubim, the composition creates a surreal and almost celestial atmosphere, distancing the viewer from earthly realism. Fouquet's meticulous detail and use of vibrant color reflect the influence of Flemish art, while the Madonna’s expressionless face and symmetrical posture convey a sense of remote, divine authority. This work not only exemplifies the courtly elegance of 15th-century French painting but also introduces an ambiguous tension between sacred reverence and earthly influence, making it a powerful visual statement about beauty, power, and devotion.