The Madonna del Loreto (Madonna del Pellegrini) is one of Caravaggio’s most famous paintings, which the artist donated to the church as a sign of thanks. In fact, it is said that the tormented painter, in order to escape the murder sentence of the father of a girl he seduced, found refuge in the basilica.
According to many, the Holy Virgin was portrayed with the features of his lover.
Also in this work emerges the extreme search for realism on the part of Caravaggio, who portrays the Virgin Mary as a commoner who appears before two poor pilgrims, dirty and with threadbare clothes.
Commissioned by Orinzia Cavalletti, widow of the Bolognese notary Ermete Cavalletti, Caravaggio completed this work between 1603 and 1606, at the height of his success.
