Artwork
Madonna and Child, Saints Jeronimo, Sebastian und a donor
Madonna and Child, Saints Jeronimo, Sebastian und a donor is an unspecified painting by the Early Renaissance artist Marco Basaiti. It dates from 1500 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1500 by the Venetian painter Marco Basaiti, this tempera panel presents a modestly sized devotional grouping. The central figure is the Virgin holding the infant Christ, accompanied by two male saints and a kneeling donor. The composition occupies a shallow, dimly lit space, with a muted landscape visible through a distant window.
Subject & Meaning
The Virgin and Child serve as the focal point of intercession, while Saint Jerome, identifiable by his scholarly bearing and beard, represents erudition, and Saint Sebastian, shown with a bow, alludes to martyrdom and protection. The donor, positioned in a posture of humility, underscores the personal piety and patronage typical of early Renaissance private commissions.
Technique & Style
Basaiti employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, contrasting a concentrated light on the figures with a deep, shadowed background. The modeling of flesh is achieved through subtle gradations of tone, while the drapery retains a linear clarity reminiscent of his contemporaries in Venice. The limited color palette enhances the solemn atmosphere.
History & Provenance
Little documentary evidence exists beyond guild records and the artist’s signature, confirming Basaiti’s activity in early sixteenth‑century Venice. The painting entered the collection of the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, where it remains part of the museum’s holdings of Northern Italian Renaissance works.
Artist & collection
Artist
Marco Basaiti (c. 1470 – 1530) was a Venetian painter of the Renaissance who worked mainly in Venice and was a contemporary of Giovanni Bellini and Cima da Conegliano. He has been referred to by several names including…
