Madonna and Child c. 1310 - 1315

This tempera painting on wood panel by Italian artist Giotto, created between 1310 and 1315, depicts the Madonna and Child. The painting features a traditional iconographic representation of the Virgin Mary, with a serene expression, holding the infant Jesus. Giotto's work is notable for its move away from the flat, stylized figures of Byzantine art and its introduction of more naturalism and three-dimensionality. This "Madonna and Child" is a prime example of his innovations. The painting, with its rich, gold background and the use of light and shadow, displays Giotto's artistic mastery and marks a significant step in the development of Early Renaissance art.