The Virgin and Child

In this early work, the Child, like the Virgin, is holding a cherry, the 'fruit of Paradise', in his left hand. The Child is seated on a book, presumably the Bible. The defined outlines, solid forms and especially the pose of the Virgin and the foreshortening of her hands shows the impact of Antonello da Messina. The landscape background however is more typically North Italian, including a view of a church reflected in the canal or lake in front of it.