Artwork
Virgin and Child Enthroned with Two Angels Holding a Crown
Virgin and Child Enthroned with Two Angels Holding a Crown is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1510 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. The work depicts a seated Virgin holding the infant Christ, both encircled by luminous halos.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The presence of the crown held by the angels suggests the coronation or royal dignity associated with the Virgin, a common theme in religious art of the period.
The painting depicts a religious scene featuring the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child enthroned, accompanied by two angels holding a crown. This iconography presents the figures of Mary, the infant Jesus, and celestial attendants, emphasizing their holy status through the inclusion of an aureola. The presence of the crown held by the angels suggests the coronation or royal dignity associated with the Virgin, a common theme in religious art of the period.
Created in 1510, the work serves as a devotional image focusing on the sacred relationship between the mother and child within a heavenly context.
Technique & Style
The work is a tempera painting on wood panel, created circa 1510 with dimensions of 107.8 cm in height and 46.5 cm in width. It depicts the Virgin Mary seated on a throne holding the infant Jesus, accompanied by two angels bearing a crown, rendered within a composition that emphasizes sacred hierarchy and devotional intimacy. The stylistic approach reflects early sixteenth-century Florentine conventions, combining rich coloration with delicate linear modeling to convey both spiritual solemnity and tactile presence.
History & Provenance
The painting Virgin and Child Enthroned with Two Angels Holding a Crown is attributed to Ansano Ciampanti and dated to 1510, based on its known creation timeline and stylistic markers of the period.
The work entered the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it remains in the museum’s holdings. Its dimensions are recorded as 107.8 cm in height and 46.5 cm in width.
Virgin and Child Enthroned with Two Angels Holding a Crown is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it is catalogued under the accession number 1975.1688. The work has been part of the museum’s exhibition schedule, appearing in displays focused on Renaissance painting and devotional art.
Overview
The work depicts a seated Virgin holding the infant Christ, both encircled by luminous halos. She is dressed in a red garment, while a golden throne and towering candlesticks form a dark backdrop. Flanking the pair, two angels with delicate, lace‑like wings are present; one presents a crown above the Virgin’s head, the other stands to the side.
Context
Typical of late medieval and early Renaissance devotional images, the work integrates a throne motif and candleholders that reference liturgical settings. The red attire of the Virgin and the rich gold accents reflect contemporary iconographic conventions for portraying holy figures with regal dignity.
Artist & collection
