Painted as part of an altarpiece for San Francesco
The contract for this work stated that it would depict St. John the Evangelist and St. Bonaventure, but the final version replaces Bonaventure with St. Francis. Two puti can be seen in the background grasping the legs of the titular figure, which holds a book braced against her left thigh. One possible interpretation of this work is that it takes its inspiration from the Book of Revelations, depicting the first titular figure as triumphant over the titular creatures, as represented by her standing on a pedestal which on which two carvings of those creatures flank the hymn to Our Lady of the Assumption. Painted as part of an altarpiece for San Francesco dei Macci, for ten points, identify this painting depicting the Virgin with child that is known for the mythical beasts depicted on the pedestal, the most famous painting of Andrea Del Sarto.
The contract for this work stated that it would depict St. John the Evangelist and St. Bonaventure, but the final version replaces Bonaventure with St. Francis.
{Madonna of the Harpies}