Madonna and Child 1490s

Francesco Francia painted this Madonna and Child in oil on wood, sometime in the early 16th century. The smooth surfaces we see here are a testament to the slow labor that went into this painting. Francia would have carefully prepared his wooden panel with layers of gesso, a mixture of plaster and glue, to create a pristine white ground. Then, using pigments ground from minerals and plants, mixed with oil, he would have built up the image layer by painstaking layer. The deep blue of Mary’s robe, likely made from the precious pigment ultramarine, derived from lapis lazuli, vividly conveys her holiness. Notice too the attention devoted to the fall of light on the figures. Francia would have known exactly how to achieve that effect. Paintings like this were luxury goods, commissioned by wealthy patrons. It’s important to remember that even a relatively small panel like this represented a major investment of labor, skill, and expensive materials. So when we look at Madonna and Child, we’re also seeing a reflection of the economy that made it possible.