Gentile da Fabriano, 'The Quaratesi Madonna', 1425
About the work
Overview
This panel formed the centre of an altarpiece commissioned by a member of the Quaratesi family for the high altar of San Niccoló Oltrarno, Florence. It was flanked by Saints Mary Magdalene, Nicholas of Bari, John the Baptist and George; the predella showed scenes from the Life of Saint Nicholas.
The Child holds what seems to be a daisy. The cloth of honour behind the Virgin is silver (now tarnished) glazed with red. The highly decorative nature of the variously patterned luxury textiles, the elaborately tooled gold, and the delicate nature of the figures contrast strongly with the same subject painted by Masaccio a year later. The gable with God the Father is original but within a modern frame.
This painting is on loan from His Majesty The King
Key facts
Details
- Full title
- The Madonna and Child with Angels (The Quaratesi Madonna)
- Artist
- Gentile da Fabriano
- Artist dates
- about 1385 - 1427
- Date made
- 1425
- Medium and support
- Tempera on wood
- Dimensions
- 139.9 × 83 cm
- Acquisition credit
- On loan from His Majesty The King
- Inventory number
- L37
- Location
- Not on display
- Image copyright
- On loan from His Majesty The King, © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024 | Royal Collection Trust
- Collection
- Main Collection
About this record
If you know more about this painting or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the National Gallery Library.