15th Century, Florence, Madonna With The Child

15th century, Florence

Madonna with the Child

Painted stucco, cm 29 x 14

This Madonna in stucco of the Florentine school of the fifteenth century emanates a sweetness and sacredness absolutely congruent with the sculptural production of religious mold between Gothic and Renaissance. The composition is presented inside an arched niche, an architectural element that frames and enhances the sacred figure. The Virgin Mary is seated, with the Child Jesus tenderly held in her arms. Their physical closeness conveys a strong sense of intimacy and maternal affection. The figures are shaped with a delicacy that reveals the skill of the sculptor. The faces are serene and collected, with an expression of sweetness and devotion. Mary wears a dark coat that wraps her head and shoulders, leaving a glimpse of a robe underneath, bright red. The Child Jesus is represented at an early age, with a small and chubby body, typical of the Renaissance children’s depictions: his pose is steady and dynamic. Both characters are aureolated, in symbol of their holiness, based on a legacy of the Gothic visual tradition. The stucco, the material used, with clearly limited costs compared to marble, allowed a plastic and detailed modeling, although it was often then painted to add color and liveliness. Traces of colour can still be seen, suggesting that the work was originally polychrome. The style reflects the aesthetics of the early Florentine Renaissance, characterized by a search for balance, harmony and a more naturalistic representation of human figures, while maintaining a strong sense of idealization and spirituality. One perceives an attention to the soft and fluid line, and an attempt to render the plasticity of the bodies through a delicate chiaroscuro.