It is ironic that the Sistine Madonna's most famous aspect is not its emotionally complex portrait of Mary and Jesus, but rather the cherubs propping themselves up on an altar at the base of the composition.

WSJ: The Sistine Madonna | Old Masters Picture Gallery | The Madonna Above the Cherubs | By A.J. Goldmann

As I've grown older, I appreciate more than ever before the strength of this figure, Jesus, who emerges in the four canonical Gospels, and the Gnostic gospels, as a witty, intelligent, complex, inspiring, and often contradictory person.

CNN: Seeking the truth about Jesus