Madonna and Child: An Advent Calendar

This Advent calendar portrays the Madonna and Child, perhaps the most beloved and enduring image in Christian art and culture. Behind the numbered windows is one painting for every day in December from the first through Christmas Eve. The face of the Advent calendar is illustrated with Raphael's small Cowper Madonna (Umbrian, 1483-1520). Raphael resided in Florence from late 1504 until 1508. All 25 works of art on this Advent calendar are from the National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC. Each work of art is accompanied by majestic words from the King James version of the Bible telling the story of the Madonna and Child. Explanatory text and an easel support are on the back of the Advent calendar.