Virgin Mary and Child

Benedetto da Maiano (bottega) XV-XVI sec. d.C./ fine - inizi

This is a painted relief stucco, belonging to the early production of Benedetto da Maiano, which depicts Mary standing with the Child in her arms, in an extremely tender attitude, surrounded by three cherubs, on a gold background. The piece is one of about thirty examples that share the same theme, style and material.

Technical information

Author: Benedetto da Maiano (bottega)
Title: Virgin Mary and Child
Date: XV-XVI sec. d.C./ fine - inizi
Material and technique: Painted and gilded plaster
Size: 55x38,5 cm
Location: Palazzo Pretorio Museum
First Floor

The iconography of this work is based on the marble Virgin Mary and Child, preserved in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, dating back to the 1570s and now attributed to Benedetto da Maiano, after previously being credited to Antonio Rossellino.
This bas-relief is temporally close to the original, as indicated by the polychromy and the poplar box frame with gouache gilding, typical of the 15th century. It is also worth noting how effectively the author manages to communicate feelings of humanity and tenderness through the simple but effective position of the Virgin. This brings the work closer to the artist's other works in the Museum of Palazzo Pretorio, such as the papier-mâché cast from the same model in Washington, a modest work and therefore a workshop piece, the “Nursing Madonna” and the two versions of the “Virgin Mary and Child with St. John”.