The only finished panel painting of Michelangelo's maturity shows the Holy Family as a tight, twisting group: a muscular Mary turns to pass or receive the Christ Child over her shoulder, with Joseph behind her. Beyond a low wall lounge five nude youths, and the young John the Baptist looks on. It was made for the Florentine merchant Agnolo Doni, probably for his marriage to Maddalena Strozzi.
Look closer
The original carved frame, still attached, has five heads projecting into space, with the Strozzi family's crescent moons among its ornament.
Looks like this
Compared by a vision model
