Artwork
Madonna and Child (Obverse) and Tobias with Archangel Raphael (Reverse)
Madonna and Child (Obverse) and Tobias with Archangel Raphael (Reverse) is an unspecified painting by Benozzo Gozzoli. It dates from 1460 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Kraków.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1460 by the Florentine painter Benozzo Gozzoli, a former apprentice of Fra Angelico, this double-sided panel presents two distinct biblical scenes. The front side shows the Virgin Mary with the infant Jesus, while the reverse depicts the youth Tobias accompanied by the Archangel Raphael. The work is part of the National Museum in Kraków’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
On the obverse, Mary is shown in a red robe, holding the child who bears a halo inscribed with “Iesus Christus,” while her own halo bears the Latin phrase “Mater Gratiae Misericordiae.” The composition emphasizes maternal devotion and divine grace. The reverse illustrates the biblical episode of Tobias guided by Raphael, a narrative of protection and guidance.
Technique & Style
Gozzoli employs the early Renaissance focus on naturalistic detail, rendering the figures with careful attention to facial expression and drapery. The background features a simple brick wall and distant trees, allowing the luminous halos and subtle brushwork to stand out. Visible brushstrokes in the lower layers reveal the panel’s age and the artist’s hand.
History & Provenance
The panel was likely commissioned for private devotion in the mid‑15th century and later entered the holdings of the National Museum in Kraków. Its dual imagery reflects the period’s practice of creating reversible panels for personal or liturgical use.
Context
Benozzo Gozzoli is known for elaborate fresco cycles such as the “Procession of the Magi” in Florence, where he combined narrative clarity with decorative richness. This panel demonstrates his ability to translate those fresco techniques onto a portable format, integrating devotional iconography with the humanistic concerns of the Renaissance.
Artist & collection
Artist
Benozzo Gozzoli (pronounced ; born Benozzo di Lese; c. 1421 – 4 October 1497) was an Italian Renaissance painter from Florence. A pupil of Fra Angelico, Gozzoli is best known for a series of murals in the Magi Chapel of…
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