Enthroned Madonna (Enthroned Maria lactans) 1473

Carlo Crivelli painted this Enthroned Madonna in the second half of the 15th century. It is an altarpiece, a type of image which, in the late medieval world, acted as a focal point for Christian worship, a conduit for the hopes and fears of the community. Made in the Italian region of Le Marche, the painting depicts Mary in the act of breastfeeding the infant Christ, a surprisingly intimate and humanistic image given the formal setting. But notice the crown, the throne, and the angels surrounding them. All of these are visual signifiers of the divine status of the figures depicted. The pose of the Madonna, with her sorrowful downward gaze, is a premonition of Christ's Passion. Art historians have traditionally drawn on theological texts to interpret images of this kind. But we can also look to accounts of the historical and social conditions to grasp the significance of this painting. Archival sources tell us about the specific patrons who paid for it. Examining these records can reveal more about the public role of art in the towns and cities of Renaissance Italy.