Motherhood in Art: From Giotto's Madonna to Bourgeois's Spider

A survey showcasing artistic interpretations of motherhood ranges from Byzantine icons to modern pieces. It features Caravaggio's Madonna dei Pellegrini (1606), inspired by a courtesan, and Louise Bourgeois's spider sculpture Maman (927 x 891 x 1024 cm). Giotto's works, such as Madonna col Bambino ridente (c. 1295) and Maestà di Ognissanti (c. 1310), introduced warmth and combined gold backgrounds with robust figures. The National Gallery houses a tender Madonna col Bambino (c. 1330). Later artists like Piero della Francesca, Leonardo, Botticelli, and Rubens are included. Berthe Morisot's La culla (1872) conveys maternal anxiety, while Tamara de Lempicka's Maternità (1928) depicts motherhood as unwanted. Bourgeois, who passed away in 2010, compared her mother to a protective spider.