The Virgin and Child 1305 - 1320
mesterenfracittadicastello
possibly oil pastel
handmade artwork painting
oil painting
acrylic on canvas
coffee painting
underpainting
painting painterly
wood
watercolour illustration
portrait art
watercolor
"The Virgin and Child", painted by the Master of Citta di Castello between 1305 and 1320, is a tempera on poplar wood panel, showcasing the characteristic style of the Italian Trecento period. This artwork, currently residing at the Statens Museum for Kunst (SMK), depicts the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child, symbolizing maternal love and divine grace. The gold background and haloes around the figures are typical of the era's iconic representations, while the meticulous detail in the Virgin's garments and the child's delicate features exemplifies the artistry of this anonymous master. This artwork serves as a poignant reminder of the devotion and reverence towards the Virgin Mary during the Middle Ages.
Comments
Here the Master of Cittá di Castello makes a traditional Byzantine Madonna ‘modern’ by giving the Virgin Mary a di-rect gaze and having her hold the infant Christ by the hand. At the same time the artist has retained typical Byzantine features such as Mary’s red robe, the stylised, linear facial features and the gold leaf ground. Seven hundred years have left their mark on the painting. The original Gothic architectural frame has disappeared, the round arch being the only surviving remnant. In several places the figures’ skin tones have disap-peared so that the green underpainting shows through, and there is extensive damage to the colour layer overall. This Virgin and Child presumably originally formed the central part of an altarpiece where it would be flanked by several other panels depicting apostles or saints.
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