Madonna and Child with Saints Michael and John the Baptist; The Noli Me Tangere; The Conversion of Saint Paul by Anonymous

Madonna and Child with Saints Michael and John the Baptist; The Noli Me Tangere; The Conversion of Saint Paul 1325 - 1349

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tempera, painting

medieval

narrative-art

tempera

painting

sculpture

figuration

madonna

oil painting

child

history-painting

italian-renaissance

Dimensions Overall, with additions, 18 x 11 5/8 in. (45.7 x 29.5 cm); without additions 17 1/2 x 11 in. (44.5 x 27.9 cm); painted surface 17 1/4 x 10 7/8 in. (43.8 x 27.6 cm)

Editor: So, here we have an early Renaissance panel painting, "Madonna and Child with Saints Michael and John the Baptist; The Noli Me Tangere; The Conversion of Saint Paul," dating roughly between 1325 and 1349, author unknown. The rendering is, um, stylized, and those rather... *greenish* figures certainly give it a distinct aura. What strikes you first when you look at this piece? Curator: Oh, that's an easy one. It's the sheer *flatness* of it all, isn't it? Everything feels intentionally, almost beautifully, deprived of depth. The figures seem suspended, weightless, like characters in a waking dream. Makes you wonder what stories they could tell, doesn’t it? Have you ever dreamt in shades of gold and terra cotta? It’s like stepping into another dimension... where perspective hasn’t been invented yet! Editor: I see what you mean! I was initially thrown by the colors, but that lack of depth does create a unique space. Curator: Absolutely! And note the narrative unfolding. Not one story, but three nestled together. We've got the tender Madonna and Child above, then *Noli Me Tangere*, Christ’s appearance to Mary Magdalene, and the dramatic Conversion of Saint Paul below. It is an artwork condensed in space but generous in stories, don’t you think? Editor: So, it is more than just a religious image, it is packed with religious narratives. It feels like three distinct paintings glued into one. Curator: Indeed! That combination and visual disjunction are quintessential of the era. It is all a feast for the eyes – and mind – isn’t it? This image feels very alive to me; it triggers unexpected connections between sacred images and the temporal world. What about you? Editor: Well, now I'm definitely seeing more than just 'greenish figures'! I’m appreciating how much information is being conveyed and how the style contributes to that. Curator: Exactly. Sometimes, art speaks loudest when it whispers differently.