Madonna and Child Enthroned with Saint Basil the Great and Saint John the Baptist and Donor 1540 - 1550

Niccolò dell'Abate made this pen and brown ink drawing, Madonna and Child Enthroned, in the 16th century, in Italy. At this time, the Catholic Church had a strong grip on the imagery that was being produced. Religious images of this kind were commissioned by wealthy donors as a way to show devotion and to improve their social standing. Notice how dell'Abate makes use of a pyramidal structure to give the image a sense of stability and order. The iconography draws on earlier examples of Renaissance art, particularly Raphael, as well as contemporary Mannerist styles. The donor at the bottom left is drawn to a much smaller scale to imply a lower status than the saints and the Madonna. To understand this work better, we can look at treatises, sermons, letters, and other historical documents. These provide valuable context, helping us to understand the complex relationship between art, power, and social structures during the Renaissance.