Artwork

Christ on the Cross between the Virgin and St. John/ Madonna enthroned

Christ on the Cross between the Virgin and St. John/ Madonna enthroned is a paint painting by the Italo Byzantine artist Francesco di Vannuccio. It dates from 1390 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.

About this work

Overview

The work exemplifies the late‑medieval visual language of Siena and is now part of the collection of the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin.

Created circa 1390 by the Sienese painter Francesco di Vannuccio, this tempera panel presents a two‑sided devotional image. One face shows the crucifixion, with the Virgin Mary and St. John the Evangelist flanking the dead Christ; the reverse features a seated Madonna holding the infant Jesus. The work exemplifies the late‑medieval visual language of Siena and is now part of the collection of the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin.

Subject & Meaning

The front panel concentrates on the Passion, positioning the lifeless Christ at the centre of the cross while the grieving mother and apostle offer consolation, a composition intended to evoke empathy and intercession. The reverse side shifts to a more intimate, triumphant theme, portraying the Virgin enthroned with the Child, underscoring the dual focus on Christ’s suffering and his divine incarnation.

Technique & Style

Executed in tempera on wood, the panel displays the Italo‑Byzantine aesthetic that dominated Siena in the late fourteenth century. Rich ornamental patterns, gold leaf framing, and stylised drapery convey a sense of sacred opulence. Figures are rendered with elongated forms and a hieratic scale, while the background’s stone‑like texture and pointed arch reinforce a liturgical setting.

History & Provenance

Francesco di Vannuccio was active in Siena between 1356 and 1389, and this work is among the few surviving examples of his output. After passing through private hands, the panel entered the Gemäldegalerie’s holdings in Berlin, where it remains on display as a representative piece of Sienese devotional painting from the transition between medieval and early Renaissance visual culture.