Fotoreproductie van een schilderij, voorstellende een tronende Maria met Kind before 1887

This is a photographic reproduction of a painting of the Madonna Enthroned, likely made to circulate imagery of important artworks. The original painting, by the Florentine artist Cimabue, would have been made around 1280 in Italy, and installed in the church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence. The image shows the Virgin Mary and Christ child surrounded by angels and prophets, rendered in a style reflecting the religious sensibilities of the time. The reproduction would have served a very different social purpose to the painting. The development of photography in the 19th century allowed for the democratization of art and culture, and the dissemination of cultural heritage to a wider audience. It reflects a growing sense of national identity and cultural pride, as art institutions such as the Rijksmuseum actively collected and displayed artworks from different periods. To understand the painting and its reproduction better, we would need to consult primary sources such as letters, diaries, and inventories, as well as secondary sources such as scholarly articles and exhibition catalogues.