I
In Christian art, a depiction of the Virgin Mary .
Though often shown with the infant Jesus , the Madonna (Italian: "My lady") may also be represented alone. Byzantine art was the first to develop a set of Madonna types
the Madonna and child enthroned, the Madonna as intercessor, the Madonna nursing the child, and so on. Western art adapted and added to the Byzantine types during the Middle Ages, producing images of the Virgin that sought to inspire piety through beauty and tenderness. In the Renaissance and Baroque periods, the most popular image of the Madonna foreshadowed the crucifixion , showing the Virgin looking gravely away from the playful child.
II
orig. Madonna Louise Ciccone
born Aug. 16, 1958, Bay City, Mich., U.S.
U.S. pop singer, songwriter, and actress.
She studied dance at the University of Michigan and later with Alvin Ailey . Her first hit single, "Holiday" (1983), forged an upbeat dance-club sound that sold 70 million albums by 1991, including Like a Virgin (1984). In music videos and in concert, she captivated fans and scandalized critics with provocatively sexual showmanship. Ever atop the latest trend, she incorporated {{link=techno">techno in Music (2000). Her films include Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), Dick Tracy (1990), and Evita (1996). Few female entertainers have attained her levels of power and control in the pop music industry.