"Madonna del Prato (also known as Madonna of the Meadow)"

Placed centrally in the picture the protagonist fills the canvas with her left leg reaching diagonally to enhance the idea of her supporting Jesus. This leg and most of her body is draped in a rich blue, gold bordered mantle which is there to symbolise the Church.

This mantle covers a deep red dress depicting Christ's death, his blood and the two being on her unify Mother Church with Christ's sacrifice.

In the background behind the central figures three poppies bloom to represent Christ's passion, death and resurrection.

Raphael uses the now established pyramidal style of compositing this centrally placed scene which he picked up from Leonardo. Also inspired by Leonardo he paints the three figures using chiaroscuro, a bold use of contrasting light and shade to add real volume and depth while the landscape around and behind them is much softer.

With the use of aerial perspective typical with the era a real sense of enormous depth of the landscape is created. Raphael, unlike Leonardo chooses to us a lighter palette to give a softer feel. This can be seen to be much more in the style of his teacher, Perugino than of his contemporary.

The overall effect is of a much calmer un-challenging scene than we would see from Leonardo. The only slight challenge to the viewer is it showing the child Jesus grabbing at the cross John the Baptist holds hinting at en early prediction of the forthcoming Passion of Christ though the calm nature of the scene seem altogether much more innocent.

Her face slightly lifted as she looks down on the children ultimately is a reassurance of the mother's care, love and all seeing secure attention.