Artwork
Madonna and Child
Madonna and Child is an unspecified painting by the Early Renaissance artist Master of the Bargello Tondo. It dates from 1425 and is held in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Created around 1425, this panel painting presents the Virgin Mary seated with the infant Christ on her lap.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1425, this panel painting presents the Virgin Mary seated with the infant Christ on her lap. The composition is framed by a gold background adorned with intricate patterns, emphasizing the sacred nature of the scene. The work is attributed to the anonymous figure known as the Master of the Bargello Tondo and is part of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The image portrays the intimate bond between mother and child, a central theme in medieval devotional art. Mary’s calm expression and the child’s upward gaze convey both tenderness and reverence, inviting contemplation of the divine incarnation. The small object held by the infant, possibly a flower or fruit, may symbolize purity or the promise of salvation.
Technique & Style
Executed in tempera on panel, the painting employs a limited palette of rich blues, reds, and golds characteristic of early 15th‑century Italian art. The figures are rendered with delicate modeling and a graceful linear quality, while the gilded background creates a luminous, otherworldly space that separates the holy subjects from earthly surroundings.
History & Provenance
The work has been linked to the workshop of the Master of the Bargello Tondo, an artist active in Florence during the early Renaissance. After changing hands among private collectors, it entered the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, where it remains on display as an example of devotional painting from the period.
Artist & collection
