Artwork
Maria mit dem Kind
Maria mit dem Kind is a paint painting by the Byzantine icon painting artist Lippo Memmi. It dates from 1340 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
About this work
Overview
Maria mit dem Kind is a 1340 painting by Lippo Memmi, a prominent Sienese artist, executed in the Byzantine iconography tradition. The work is housed in the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts the Madonna and Christ Child in a traditional pose, with additional elements: the Madonna holds a white cloth, the Child grasps a small object, and a smaller scene above shows the Coronation of the Virgin, enriching the devotional theme.
Technique & Style
The painting features a gold leaf background with a circular pattern behind the main figures, set within an ornate Gothic-style frame adorned with pointed arches. The style and composition align with Memmi's characteristic Gothic approach.
History & Provenance
Created in 1340, the painting is attributed to Lippo Memmi, a leading follower of Simone Martini, with whom he collaborated on notable works like the *Annunciation with St. Margaret and St. Ansanus*.
Context
This work reflects Memmi's contribution to the International Gothic style, blending Byzantine traditions with emerging Gothic elements, characteristic of 14th-century Sienese art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Lippo Memmi (c. 1291 – 1356) was an Italian painter from Siena. He was the foremost follower of Simone Martini, who was his brother-in-law. Together with Martini, in 1333 he painted what is regarded as one of the…
