Artwork
Coronation of Mary and Saints
Coronation of Mary and Saints is a tempera painting by the Byzantine icon painting artist Jacobello di Bonomo. It dates from 1370 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Kraków.
About this work
Overview
The artwork features a central depiction of Mary's coronation, surrounded by various saints, rendered with a formal composition and rich colors.
Jacobello di Bonomo, an Italian painter from the late 14th century, completed Coronation of Mary and Saints in 1370. This tempera painting exemplifies an early Renaissance approach to religious subjects. The artwork features a central depiction of Mary's coronation, surrounded by various saints, rendered with a formal composition and rich colors. It is presently part of the collection at the National Museum in Kraków.
Subject & Meaning
The painting's central theme is the Coronation of the Virgin, a significant event in Christian theology where Mary is crowned Queen of Heaven. Surrounding this pivotal scene are several venerated figures, including Anthony the Great, Augustine of Hippo, Blaise of Sebaste, and Lawrence of Rome. The artist adhered to established Byzantine iconographic traditions in arranging these figures, presenting a structured and reverent portrayal of divine hierarchy and sanctity.
Technique & Style
Executed in tempera, a medium favored for its luminous and precise qualities, this work reflects Jacobello di Bonomo's early Renaissance style. Although he received his artistic training in Venice, no works from that period survive there. The composition features figures arranged with a deliberate symmetry, adorned in vibrant red, green, and blue robes, set against a deep blue backdrop. Gold accents enhance the sense of solemnity and importance, while the serene expressions of the figures contribute to the painting's formal character.
History & Provenance
Created in the year 1370, Coronation of Mary and Saints represents a specific moment in late medieval Italian art. While its early history before its acquisition by the museum is not detailed in the provided information, the painting is now a significant piece within the holdings of the National Museum in Kraków. Its preservation there allows for continued study of 14th-century Venetian-influenced painting.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jacobello di Bonomo (active 1370–90) was an Italian painter, active in an early Renaissance style.
![Madonna and Child with Saints Andrew, Benedict, Bernard, and Catherine of Alexandria with Angels [entire triptych], by Agnolo Gaddi](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/agnolo-gaddi--madonna-and-child-with-saints-andrew-benedict-bernard-and-ca--93a6585f38530738-w320.webp)
![Madonna and Child Enthroned with Four Saints and Eighteen Angels [middle panel], by Puccio di Simone](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/puccio-di-simone--madonna-and-child-enthroned-with-four-saints-and-eighteen-an--24dd12ad513d60ea-w320.webp)
![Saint Anthony Abbot [left panel], by Puccio di Simone](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/puccio-di-simone--saint-anthony-abbot-left-panel--b93626e2d00b6158-w320.webp)