Madonna and Child with Saints Jerome and Agnes 1462 - 1468

Giovanni di Paolo painted "Madonna and Child with Saints Jerome and Agnes," using tempera and gold on wood. The composition is structured through a hierarchy of figures, with the Madonna and Child centrally placed, flanked by Saints. The artist employs color to distinguish between the sacred and the earthly. The somber robes of the saints contrast with the decorative patterns adorning the Virgin's garments. This is a visual code, where gold signifies the divine, while muted tones suggest mortality and scholarly austerity. Giovanni di Paolo plays with semiotic tension. The spatial arrangement, though seemingly traditional, introduces a subtly destabilizing effect. Each figure occupies a distinct plane. This challenges our perception and disrupts a unified spatial experience. In this way, the painting engages with prevailing notions of perception and representation. The painting invites viewers to question the established meanings embedded within traditional religious iconography.