Madonna della Cintola 1450

"Madonna della Cintola" is a 1450 tempera on poplar wood panel painting by Benozzo Gozzoli, a renowned Italian artist of the early Renaissance. This painting, measuring 133 x 165 cm, portrays the Virgin Mary as the Queen of Heaven, enthroned in a celestial landscape and surrounded by angels. The central panel depicts the Virgin receiving the cintola (belt) from an angel, a central theme in the devotion to Mary. The painting is a significant example of Gozzoli’s mastery of detail and composition, demonstrating his skills in depicting both heavenly and earthly scenes. This work showcases the prevalent focus on the Virgin Mary in the art of the period.