Madonna and Child with St. Fredianus and St. Augustine 1438

Filippo Lippi made this large-scale painting, Madonna and Child with St. Fredianus and St. Augustine, using tempera on panel. Tempera is a traditional material: pigments are bound in egg yolk, a technique requiring meticulous layering and glazing. The smooth, matte surface reflects the even light, enhancing the work's clarity. Lippi skillfully used the medium to capture the textures of fabric, skin, and hair, bringing a tactile quality to the divine figures and the holy setting. This highly skilled mode of painting reflects the cultural values of Renaissance Florence, and the artist's workshop. Assistants would have prepared the panels and ground the pigments, and the underpainting. The artist would apply the final touches, unifying the composition and creating a devotional masterpiece. Looking closely, we can see the great labour involved in its production and the social forces required to make it. By appreciating this, we can expand our understanding of this work, moving beyond the mere image, and towards a deeper understanding of the rich artistic heritage of Renaissance Florence.