Madonna with Child and Angels 1425

Lo Scheggia created this ‘Madonna with Child and Angels’ panel with tempera and gold on wood. The symmetrical arrangement immediately draws the eye to the Madonna at the centre. She is framed by a group of angels, their forms creating a semi-circle around her. The use of gold leaf flattens the space, creating a heavenly backdrop that denies depth. This abstraction focuses our attention on the symbolic and spiritual nature of the scene rather than its realism. Linear patterns define the folds of the garments and the delicate features of the figures. These lines create a sense of order and refinement, typical of early Renaissance aesthetics. The painting invites us to contemplate the formal structure, and how the calculated arrangement of figures and the use of specific materials contribute to the work's overall expression of divine harmony. It's through this formal approach that we can understand the deeper cultural and philosophical meanings embedded in Lo Scheggia's work.