Virgin and Child 

This iconic painting by the Florentine artist Cimabue, depicts the Virgin Mary holding the Christ child. It is an example of the Italo-Byzantine style, a blend of Byzantine art with the emerging artistic trends in Italy during the 13th century. The figures are rendered with a flatness and formality characteristic of Byzantine art, but with a greater sense of naturalism in their features and gestures. The gold background and the angels in the upper corners are also typical of Byzantine art, but the depiction of Mary's throne and her intricate drapery show the influence of the Italian Gothic style. Cimabue's work was pivotal in the development of Italian painting, paving the way for the artistic revolution that would occur in the following century.