Madonna of Crevole 1284

Duccio painted this “Madonna of Crevole” with tempera and gold on wood in the late 13th century. We see Mary holding the Christ child, but it’s her melancholic expression that truly captivates. Note the gesture of the Christ child, reaching up to touch his mother's face. This motif, the 'tenderness gesture,' is steeped in history. It appears in Byzantine icons, symbolizing the intimate bond between mother and child. Yet, it echoes even older, pre-Christian images of maternal deities. Consider how the image's emotional resonance transcends its immediate religious context. The Madonna's sorrowful gaze and the child's gentle touch evoke a powerful sense of empathy. This image taps into our collective memory, resonating with universal experiences of love, loss, and the burdens of motherhood. The cyclical progression of this symbol has resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings in different historical contexts.