Artwork
Madonna of Humility
Madonna of Humility is an unspecified painting by the Sienese School artist Unknown. It dates from 1390 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
You see Mary sitting on a gold cushion, her blue robe spread around her, while she nurses baby Jesus.
You see Mary sitting on a gold cushion, her blue robe spread around her, while she nurses baby Jesus.
This painting is from Florence around 1390. Artists then often showed Mary seated low like this, a style called "Madonna of Humility." The gold cushion and her calm face were meant to feel holy, not fancy. We don’t know who painted it, but the style looks like Agnolo Gaddi’s work.
To see more paintings like this, visit the Rijksmuseum.
Overview
This 14th-century Florentine panel painting depicts a serene scene of the Virgin Mary nursing the Christ Child, characteristic of the devotional art of its time.
Subject & Meaning
The Virgin is portrayed in a pose known as 'Madonna of Humility', seated low on a gold cushion, conveying holiness through simplicity and calm demeanor, rather than opulence.
Technique & Style
The work's style, though unattributed with certainty, resembles that of Agnolo Gaddi, a prominent Florentine painter who followed in the tradition of Giotto, evident in the composition and the use of symbolic colors like blue for Mary's robe.
History & Provenance
Created in Florence around 1390, the painting's exact authorship is unknown, despite stylistic associations with Agnolo Gaddi.
Context
Reflective of late 14th-century Florentine artistic trends, this piece aligns with the period's emphasis on devotional themes and the 'Madonna of Humility' motif, popular among contemporary artists.
Legacy
While not individually renowned, the painting represents a typical example of its era, with similar works found in collections like the Rijksmuseum, contributing to the broader understanding of Florentine painting traditions.
Artist & collection
