Artwork
Madonna and Child with Saints and Angels
Madonna and Child with Saints and Angels is a tempera painting by the Italo Byzantine artist Bernardo Daddi. It dates from 1345 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
History & Provenance
The panel titled Madonna and Child with Saints and Angels, attributed to Bernardo Daddi, was executed in 1330 as a tempera work on wood panel.
The panel titled Madonna and Child with Saints and Angels, attributed to Bernardo Daddi, was executed in 1330 as a tempera work on wood panel. Its early history is linked to Vallombrosa Abbey near Florence, where a tradition recorded by Buckland suggests it remained until the abbey’s suppression in 1866; the abbot Germano Gai may have possessed it before its sale to J. Stark, then to Sir Henry Doulton and his heirs, and finally to Commander Virgoe Buckland (d. 1949). The work was auctioned at Sotheby’s London on 2 November 1949 (lot 76) and subsequently acquired from the agent of Count Alessandro Contini Bonaccossi in July 1950 by the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, which gifted it to the National Gallery of Art in 1952. No documentation of a specific commission survives.
The painting is held by the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., accessioned as part of the Samuel H. Kress Collection. It entered the Gallery in 1952 as a gift from the Samuel H. Kress Foundation. The work’s exhibition history is not detailed in the available sources.
Overview
Bernardo Daddi's painting, Madonna and Child with Saints and Angels, executed in tempera on panel around 1345, presents a devotional scene. It centers on the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child, flanked by an assembly of saints and angelic figures. This work exemplifies the artistic trends of its period, blending traditional religious iconography with emerging stylistic elements.
Subject & Meaning
The composition's central focus is the Virgin Mary, who cradles the infant Christ. They are encircled by various saints and a choir of angels, creating a celestial court. This arrangement emphasizes the sacred hierarchy and the intercessory role of the saints, while the presence of angels reinforces the divine nature of the central figures, inviting contemplation and veneration.
Technique & Style
Executed in tempera on panel, the painting showcases vibrant hues of red, blue, and green, which retain their intensity. The use of gold leaf for the halos of the divine figures creates a luminous effect, drawing attention to their sacred status. Daddi's approach to rendering the figures, particularly the gentle expressions of the saints and the childlike appearance of the angels, reflects a move towards greater humanization in religious art.
Context
Created in the mid-14th century, this painting aligns with a significant shift in Italian art. During this period, artists increasingly sought to infuse religious narratives with heightened emotional resonance and a more relatable human quality. Daddi's work contributes to this development by moving away from the more rigid, stylized forms prevalent in earlier devotional images, embracing a softer, more expressive portrayal of sacred figures.
Legacy
Bernardo Daddi was recognized for his ability to imbue his religious compositions with a sense of warmth and humanity. This characteristic is evident in the Madonna and Child with Saints and Angels, where the figures convey an approachable tenderness. His style contributed to the evolving visual language of the Florentine school, influencing subsequent generations of artists who continued to explore emotional depth in their sacred works.
Artist & collection
Artist
Bernardo Daddi (c. 1280 – 1348) was an early Italian Renaissance painter and the leading painter of Florence of his generation. He was one of the artists who contributed to the revolutionary art of the Renaissance,…
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