Madonna and Child on a throne (Front side fragment) 1311

Duccio painted this fragment of the “Madonna and Child on a Throne” in the early 1300s, employing tempera paint on a wooden panel. Tempera, made from pigment mixed with egg yolk, dries quickly, and lends itself to layering and detail, as we can see in the fine lines of Mary’s face. Note the tooling around the halo, using punches to create texture in the gilded surface. Gold was among the most precious commodities of the time, creating a radiant effect that linked the earthly and divine realms. This fragment offers a glimpse into the elaborate and costly process of creating devotional art in the early Renaissance. Materials like gold and pigments weren't just colors; they were investments, reflecting the economic power of the church and its patrons, and the great amount of labor involved in their extraction and refinement. Considering the materials, making, and historical context allows us to move beyond appreciating art solely for its aesthetic qualities.