Madonna and Child 1230s

This “Madonna and Child” was made in the early thirteenth century by the Italian artist Berlinghiero, using tempera and gold leaf on wood. Berlinghiero would have begun with a seasoned wood panel, carefully prepared to receive paint. He then applied gesso, a white ground that provides a smooth, reflective surface. Next, he would have laid gold leaf onto the background and halos, burnishing it to a brilliant sheen. Tempera paint, made from pigment mixed with egg yolk, was applied in layers to create the figures of Mary and the Christ Child. The flatness of the image and the stylized features are a conscious choice, emphasizing the divine nature of the subjects. The intricate detail of the gilding is particularly notable; gold was associated with wealth and power, with an inherent preciousness. The amount of labor involved in the production process, from panel preparation to the application of gold leaf and tempera paint, speaks to the value placed on religious imagery in medieval society. This reflects the cultural significance and artistry of a devotional object.