SIENESE SCHOOL (14TH CENTURY)

Tempera on panel. This painting depicts the Madonna Enthroned holding the Christ child in her lap. The Madonna sits on a throne decorated with white painted floral and geometric elements. She is dressed in a black robe with gold hatching. The drapery falls smoothly around her figure, supporting the modelling while obscuring the lower part of the figure. The Madonna’s gaze is directed towards the viewer, while the infant Jesus with the typical gesture of blessing looks towards his mother. We see here the tender relationship between mother and child, full of humility and innocence. The skin tones are pale, especially on the face of the Virgin Mary. Two saints flank the throne. One is dressed in red robes and the other in yellow, with their gazes directed to the infant Jesus. All four figures have solid gold halos decorated with subtle ornaments and a red border. The entire painting is inspired by the Byzantine style, typical for Siena during this period – it is especially evident in the gold-leafed background, as well as the overall colour scheme of painting. There is an effort to indicate the depth of the space linearly with the receding lines of the throne and the two steps depicted in perspective.