Virgin and Child with a Goldfinch 1381 - 1415

Lorenzo di Niccolò Gerini created this ‘Virgin and Child with a Goldfinch’ using tempera on wood in the late 14th or early 15th century. The painting’s power lies in its structural simplicity. The composition is built around the vertical form, drawing our eyes upwards. The figures are deliberately positioned to maximize the picture’s symbolic impact, where the Virgin’s monumental form and sombre colour is set against the tender infant in her arms. The colour palette, dominated by golds and reds, enhances the painting's solemnity, while the goldfinch introduces a subtle dynamism. Gerini uses line and colour to express complex theological ideas. The Virgin’s gaze, directed slightly downward, creates a sense of humility and introspection, a striking contrast to the richness of her robes and the golden background, which signify divine status. Ultimately, this painting functions on multiple levels; it is a devotional object, but also an intricate construction of signs and symbols that continue to invite contemplation and interpretation.