A young woman dressed in a deep red gown sits in the foreground, her lap covered by a rich blue drapery, holding a small, unclothed child who leans affectionately against her shoulder. The child’s left arm encircles the woman’s neck, his cheek pressed to hers, while his right hand rests gently on her chest, and his legs are supported by her careful hands. Both figures are set before a low stone wall, which separates them from a luminous landscape stretching into the distance.

The woman’s gaze drifts slightly away from the viewer, her expression serene and contemplative, while the child looks outward with a calm, almost solemn face. A delicate, transparent veil falls from the crown of her golden hair, catching the light as it wraps softly around her shoulders. Fine, smooth brushwork is visible in the rendering of their skin, creating a sense of softness and gentle modeling, while the folds of the garments are described with subtle gradations of color and light.

The horizon is distant and atmospheric, with faint blue mountains rising against the sky, lending depth and calm to the setting. Light falls evenly across the scene, illuminating the faces and hands of the figures and casting gentle shadows in the folds of their clothing. The composition is tightly framed, focusing attention on the intimate bond between the woman and child, while the landscape provides a sense of openness and peace.

A faint golden halo encircles each head, visible as a delicate line against the sky, marking the figures as sacred. The artist arranges the figures in a pyramidal structure, with the woman’s head at the apex and the child’s body forming the base, creating a harmonious balance. The title, The Small Cowper Madonna, and the artist, Raphael, are given in the catalogue entry.