Jesus and Mary, or emporer Nero as a child with his mother Julia Agrippina? That's what the faithful wondered when this statue of the Madonna was revealed in Rome's church of Sant'Agostino in 1516.
For centuries the statue was pretty much neglected by the faithful, who preferred to pray to Mary before effigies with a sweeter appearance. The fate of the statue changed however in the 19th century, when this particular Madonna was believed to have assisted a woman during a difficult childbirth. This news spread in Rome, and up to this day expecting parents come to pray to the Madonna for a safe delivery. She is now known as the Madonna del Parto, or Our Lady of Childbirth.
In 1822 Pope Pius VII granted an indulgence to anyone who devoutly kissed the Madonna's left foot. This became such a popular devotion that the marble foot soon had to be replaced by a silver one.