Artwork
Mary with the child and saints
Mary with the child and saints is a paint painting by the Early Renaissance artist Benozzo Gozzoli. It dates from 1450 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1450, this tempera panel by the Florentine painter Benozzo Gozzoli presents the Virgin Mary seated with the infant Christ, accompanied by three saints. The figures are identified by inscribed circles and halos, while angels are hinted behind a draped backdrop. The work is part of the collection of the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin.
Subject & Meaning
The central motif shows Mary, titled "Maria Mater Dei," holding a bare‑chested Christ child whose name appears as the monogram IHS XPS, a traditional abbreviation for Jesus. The surrounding saints, each marked with a halo and name, underscore the devotional focus on the Holy Family and its heavenly intercessors.
Technique & Style
Executed in tempera, the painting reflects early Renaissance sensibilities through its naturalistic rendering of figures and spatial arrangement, while retaining decorative flourishes characteristic of the International Gothic style that Gozzoli absorbed from his master, Fra Angelico.
History & Provenance
Benozzo Gozzoli, a pupil of Fra Angelico, is best known for his elaborate fresco cycles, notably the Magi Chapel in Florence. This panel, attributed to his workshop around the mid‑15th century, entered the Gemäldegalerie Berlin's holdings in the 20th century, though earlier ownership details remain sparse.
Context
The work belongs to a period when Florentine artists were integrating classical perspective and humanist ideals with established religious iconography. Gozzoli’s composition aligns with contemporary devotional panels intended for private or chapel settings, emphasizing both narrative clarity and ornamental richness.
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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