Madonna Casini

The Madonna Casini (c. 1426) by Masaccio is a wonderful Early Renaissance picture presenting a very human side of the Mother and her Child. This portrait was painted at the request of Cardinal Antonio Casini for his personal use. The “Tickling Madonna” rejects Gothic traditions of the time and presents a concept of a loving and caring mother tickling her baby under the chin. However, simultaneously with introducing an idea of a motherly love, the picture contains an unfortunate prophecy of Jesus future suffering through the depiction of the necklace of traditional red coral beads predicting his future blood. Altogether, combining the natural human love between a mother and her child and the divine prophecy of the suffering of Christ is the main way in which the painting presents the theme. Moreover, Masaccio perfectly integrates the image of warm motherly love into the Gothic background of the gold leaf.

Masaccio’s Madonna Casini presents the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus in a tender and intimate moment, showing Mary as a loving and caring mother rather than a distant religious figure. The playful act of tickling Jesus creates a sense of natural affection and human warmth. However, the red coral beads around Jesus’ neck introduce a deeper religious meaning, symbolising his future suffering and sacrifice. Thus, the painting beautifully combines maternal love, human tenderness, and the foreshadowing of Christ’s Passion within a simple devotional image.