Madonna and Child 1323 - 1329

Simone Martini made this panel painting of the Madonna and Child sometime in the early 1300s, using tempera and gold leaf on wood. Tempera, made from pigment mixed with egg yolk, dries quickly, allowing for precise detail, but requires a carefully prepared surface. Here, the gold leaf, meticulously applied, gives a luminous backdrop, flattening space and emphasizing the figures’ divinity. Look at the folds of the Madonna’s robe and the delicate features of the Child; these were achieved through careful layering of paint. Such paintings were commissioned by wealthy patrons, demonstrating both devotion and affluence. The labor-intensive process, from the grinding of pigments to the application of gold, added to the value of the artwork, and the status of its owner. Considering materials and making helps us understand how a work like this functioned within its social and economic context, and to appreciate the techniques and traditions that Martini engaged with.