Who painted Shield with Two Arms Framed by a Garland (birth tray, back)?

Shield with Two Arms Framed by a Garland (birth tray, back) was painted by Apollonio di Giovanni in 1465.

Where can I see Shield with Two Arms Framed by a Garland (birth tray, back)?

Shield with Two Arms Framed by a Garland (birth tray, back) is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Shield with Two Arms Framed by a Garland (birth tray, back)?

Shield with Two Arms Framed by a Garland (birth tray, back) is associated with Early Renaissance.

Artwork

Shield with Two Arms Framed by a Garland (birth tray, back)

Apollonio di Giovanni , 1465

Shield with Two Arms Framed by a Garland (birth tray, back) is a tempera painting by the Early Renaissance artist Apollonio di Giovanni. It dates from 1465 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1465 by the Florentine painter Apollonio di Giovanni, this tempera panel forms part of a birth tray now in the Victoria and Albert Museum. The work depicts a heraldic shield flanked by a decorative garland, rendered in the precise, matte finish characteristic of egg‑tempera.

Subject & Meaning

The central motif is a shield split into two fields, each bearing a distinct coat of arms, a visual shorthand for lineage and alliance. The surrounding garland of foliage and fruit frames the device, suggesting abundance and the celebratory context of a birth ceremony.

Technique & Style

Apollonio employed tempera, mixing pigments with a protein binder to achieve fine, luminous layers. This method allows subtle gradations of tone, giving the metalwork and botanical elements a tactile sense of depth while preserving the crisp outlines typical of mid‑15th‑century Florentine decorative painting.

History & Provenance

The panel was originally attached to the reverse side of a birth tray, a ceremonial object used in Renaissance Italy to mark the arrival of a child. It entered the Victoria and Albert Museum’s collection in the early 20th century, where it remains a documented example of domestic ritual art.