Artwork
Madonna and Child Enthroned with Angels, Saints and Donors
Madonna and Child Enthroned with Angels, Saints and Donors is a paint painting by the Byzantine icon painting artist Jacopo del Casentino. It dates from 1335 and is held in the collection of the Städel Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1335 by the Tuscan painter Jacopo del Casentino, this tempera panel presents a devotional tableau of the Virgin seated with the infant Christ. The composition is framed by a host of angels, saints and the patrons who commissioned the work, all arranged within an interior that suggests a church setting. The piece is part of the collection of the Städel Museum in Frankfurt.
Subject & Meaning
At the centre, the Madonna holds the Child on an elaborately carved throne, embodying the theological concept of Mary as the throne of grace. The surrounding angels and saints form a celestial court, while the donors are positioned respectfully, indicating their piety and desire for intercession. The upward gazes of the figures convey a shared focus on the divine.
Technique & Style
The painting follows the Byzantine iconographic tradition, employing a flat, gold‑toned background and stylized figures. Jacopo applies chiaroscuro to model the drapery, creating subtle volume through contrasts of light and shadow. The rich coloration—black and red for the Virgin’s robe, yellow for the Child—highlights hierarchical importance within the scene.
Context
Working in early fourteenth‑century Tuscany, Jacopo del Casentino was part of a generation that blended Byzantine conventions with emerging Gothic sensibilities. The inclusion of donor portraits reflects a common practice of the period, where patrons sought spiritual benefit and social recognition through visual commemoration in sacred art.
History & Provenance
After remaining in private or ecclesiastical hands for several centuries, the panel entered the Städel Museum’s collection, where it is displayed as an example of early Italian devotional painting. Its attribution to Jacopo del Casentino is based on stylistic analysis and documentary evidence linking the work to his workshop.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jacopo del Casentino (c. 1297 – 1358) was an Italian painter, active mainly in Tuscany in the first half of the 14th century.
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