There’s a big slice of the pie chart in my brain dedicated to hilarious renditions of the Virgin and Child. While I saw plenty of these in my recent trip to the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, I ended up being astonished by the knockout gorgeous Madonnas instead.

There’s a charming (free!) museum in Bologna called Museo Davia Bargellini that’s stuffed with a rummage sale collection of ephemera and earnest, friendly security guards everywhere making sure you don’t miss out on a case of doorknobs then—GAH!—this sloe-eyed Virgin hanging in the middle of it.

With a flight out the next morning, I was full of my usual fear of flying terror. Madonna del Denti’s peaceful expression temporarily stayed my anxiety.

At the Cathedral Museum of Ferrara (home of many treasures), I found this Madonna, with her classical Italian face and elegant hands holding—gasp!—a baby Jesus who resembles an actual human child, leg chonk and all.

Also in Ferrara, inside a sensational palace in with a diamond cut stone facade, an equally sensational Madonna holds the baby Jesus. Mary and Jesus share a mutual love of brocade gowns and brown eyebrow pencils.

Just look at this beauty! Madonna, with her pointed chin and plush neck, sits gracefully inside the folds of her robe, delicately knotted to match her son’s robe.

I was quite mesmerized by the reflection of Madonna in the museum’s window.

Oh Oh Oh! HERE SHE IS. The sweetest Madonna of all, draping her scarf over the head of her coy little savior while he grips her long, jointless finger. Her eyes are laughing, with the cutest crinkles at the corners.

(Not laughing because baby Jesus has teeth, of course not).

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms today, especially to mine (she’s the ravishing Madonna, I’m the baby Jesus with teeth).

And here she is now, Madonna Enthroned with Two Grandchildren, still ravishing.