1350
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Madonna and Child is a 1350 unspecified by Lippo Memmi, a Byzantine icon painting work, depicting Siena, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This painting shows Mary holding a baby Jesus. The cloth around Mary’s face is gold. Jesus grabs her robe with tiny hands. This was made for a church altar in Siena. People there believed Mary helped them win a big battle in 1260. The gold background was expensive then. Look up Lippo Memmi if you want to see more like this.
On the eve of the Battle of Montaperti in 1260, the Tuscan town of Siena was dedicated to the Virgin. Siena’s miraculous victory the following day confirmed its status as the "City of the Virgin" and inspired fervent devotion among its citizens. Marian imagery flourished, and many altarpieces comprising images of the Madonna and Child flanked by saints were made for Sienese churches. This panel once formed part of such an altarpiece. Here, the infant Christ clings to his mother’s clothing. He also holds a scroll that proclaims his special destiny. Lippo Memmi was the brother-in-law of Simone…
Read the full account in the museum source.
Lippo Memmi (c. 1291 – 1356) was an Italian painter from Siena. He was the foremost follower of Simone Martini, who was his brother-in-law. Together with Martini, in 1333 he painted what is regarded as one of the…
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