Artwork
Head of the Madonna
Head of the Madonna is an oil painting by the High Renaissance artist Franciabigio. It dates from 1509 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work functions as a devotional image within the tradition of religious art, isolating the figure to encourage personal contemplation of the Madonna.
Executed in 1509, this oil painting on panel depicts the Virgin Mary, focusing exclusively on her head and shoulders. The work functions as a devotional image within the tradition of religious art, isolating the figure to encourage personal contemplation of the Madonna. By removing narrative context or background elements, the composition emphasizes the subject's spiritual presence rather than a specific biblical event.
The piece was originally part of the collection of Michael Friedsam before entering the holdings of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1509, this religious painting by Franciabigio depicts the Virgin Mary using oil paint applied to a wood panel support. The work measures 38.1 cm in height and 29.2 cm in width. Originally owned by Michael Friedsam, the piece is now held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The composition focuses strictly on the head of the subject, adhering to the devotional conventions of the early sixteenth century.
History & Provenance
Head of the Madonna is an oil painting on panel attributed to the Florentine artist Franciabigio, created in 1509. The work measures 38.1 cm in height by 29.2 cm in width. It was part of the collection of Michael Friedsam, who bequeathed the painting to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is presently housed.
No surviving records indicate a specific commission or patron for the piece, and no exhibition history is noted in the available sources.
Overview
Franciabigio, a painter active during the Florentine Renaissance, completed Head of the Madonna in 1509 using oil paint. This High Renaissance depiction of the Virgin Mary is now part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The artist, sometimes identified as Francesco di Cristofano, was a notable figure in early 16th-century Italian art.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Franciabigio (1482 – 24 January 1525) was an Italian painter of the Florentine Renaissance. His true name may have been Francesco di Cristofano; he is also referred to as either Marcantonio Franciabigio or Francia Bigio.
