Artwork
Madonna and Child Enthroned with Two Angels and a Donor

Madonna and Child Enthroned with Two Angels and a Donor is a tempera painting by Vittore Crivelli. It dates from 1491 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on the sacred bond between mother and child, framed by heavenly mediation and earthly devotion.
The painting depicts the Virgin Mary seated on a gilded throne holding the Christ Child, flanked by two winged angels who present the Christ Child with a crystal orb, while a kneeling donor in contemporary dress appears at the lower left. The orb symbolizes Christ’s dominion over the world, and the angels’ presence underscores Mary’s role as intercessor. Gold leaf backgrounds and brocaded textiles emphasize divine radiance and earthly status, while the donor’s inclusion reflects late-fifteenth-century piety in which lay patrons commissioned devotional images to secure spiritual merit.
The composition centers on the sacred bond between mother and child, framed by heavenly mediation and earthly devotion.
Technique & Style
The work is a tempera painting executed on a wooden panel in 1481. Its support is a panel, and the medium is tempera, typical of late fifteenth‑century Italian devotional art. The composition presents the Virgin enthroned with the Christ Child, accompanied by two angels and a donor figure, arranged in a balanced, frontal layout that emphasizes the sacred narrative.
The painting measures approximately 132.1 cm in height by 61.5 cm in width, as recorded by the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
History & Provenance
Created by Vittore Crivelli in 1481, the painting Madonna and Child Enthroned with Two Angels and a Donor was executed in tempera on panel. The work depicts the Virgin Mary, the Christ Child, two angels, and a male donor figure. Its provenance traces through several notable European and American collectors before entering a major public institution.
The ownership chain includes Auguste du Blaisel, followed by Jean Dollfus, and subsequently George Blumenthal. These successive owners held the piece prior to its acquisition by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is currently housed. The work measures 132.1 cm in height and 61.5 cm in width, reflecting the scale typical of devotional panels from this period of Crivelli's career.
The painting Madonna and Child Enthroned with Two Angels and a Donor by Vittore Crivelli (1481) is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. It entered the museum's collection through the bequest of George Blumenthal, and prior owners included Auguste du Blaisel and Jean Dollfus; the accession number is not specified in the available documentation. The work has not been recorded in any publicly documented exhibition catalogues or major surveys according to the sources consulted.
Overview
Vittore Crivelli's Madonna and Child Enthroned with Two Angels and a Donor, completed in 1491, is a tempera painting depicting a traditional religious scene. This work, now part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, centers on the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child, flanked by celestial figures and a kneeling patron. It showcases the artist's adherence to established devotional iconography and the detailed aesthetic characteristic of the late 15th century.
Artist & collection
Artist
Vittorio (or Vittore) Crivelli (c. 1440 – 1501 or 1502) was an Italian painter and brother of Carlo Crivelli. His works are similar in style to his brother's, but less accomplished. He was born and died in…













