The Virgin and Child with Roses and Laurels

The Virgin is seated in front of a laurel bush (hence the French title 'La Vierge aux Lauriers'), which was associated with distinction, and here acts as a halo. A rose bush surrounds the Child Jesus; its flowers were associated with purity and suffering.

Formerly attributed to Giorgione, Moretto, and Palma Vecchio, this was once a very famous painting. It is clearly indebted to the work of Palma and indeed the young Titian, however it has been so extensively overpainted that attribution is extremely difficult.