Glatz Madonna

Executed in tempera on wood, the painting displays the intricate detailing typical of Bohemian Gothic art. The throne’s patterned carving and the delicate rendering of angels playing musical instruments showcase a refined attention to ornamental surface and narrative embellishment.

Commissioned by Archbishop Arnošt of Pardubice, the donor is identified in the lower left corner of the scene. The work was intended for a liturgical setting, forming part of an altarpiece that once stood in the cathedral of Kłodzko (Glatz).

The Glatz Madonna reflects the influence of contemporary Central European workshops, where courtly elegance and devotional imagery merged. Its iconography aligns with the period’s emphasis on Marian veneration and the use of richly colored garments to denote sanctity.

Although the original altarpiece has been dismantled, the central panel survives as a key example of early Bohemian painting. It continues to be studied alongside works attributed to the Master Theoderic, offering insight into the artistic networks of the 14th‑century Holy Roman Empire.