Why it matters
The only finished panel painting by the mature Michelangelo to survive, the Doni Tondo shows the Holy Family in a powerful sculptural knot, with five nude youths in the background. It was probably made for the wedding of Agnolo Doni and Maddalena Strozzi.
Did you know?
- It is still in its original frame, carved with the Strozzi coat of arms.
- Michelangelo completed it before starting on the Sistine Chapel ceiling in 1508.
- The meaning of the nude figures in the background is still debated.
Based on the Wikipedia article Doni Tondo (CC BY-SA 4.0).
