Virgin And Child, Tempera On Panel With A Gold Background, Italy, 14th–15th Century

An important tempera painting on wood panel depicting the Virgin and Child against a gold background.

The composition draws on traditional iconography from the Byzantine world, which was widely adopted in Italian workshops between the late 14th and early 15th centuries.

The Virgin is depicted in a half-length portrait, holding the Infant Jesus on her left arm. Her face, with its fine, elongated features and slightly tilted expression, conveys a gentleness imbued with contemplation. The Child, dressed in a red tunic embellished with gold braid, blesses with his right hand while holding a globe in his left, symbolizing his sovereignty over the world.

The gold background retains remarkable engraved decoration visible in the halos as well as in the peripheral borders. The drapery still displays its original engraved highlights, lending the entire composition a particularly captivating luminous presence.

With its style still marked by the Byzantine heritage but already softened by a Gothic sensibility, this work follows in the tradition of the Central Italian workshops active around 1400.

The panel’s large format, which is uncommon for this type of depiction, enhances its decorative character and visual impact.

The “Madonnas on a Gold Background” remain among the most iconic examples of medieval Italian painting and continue to attract the interest of collectors of ancient art worldwide.

Signs of wear, abrasions, and minor losses consistent with its age.

Antique gold background with a beautiful patina.

Stable antique panel.

Good overall condition.

• Height: 54.5 cm
• Width: 39 cm
• Thickness: 2.4 cm

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