Artwork

Parts of a triptych: Annunciation and saints Jerome and Lawrence

Parts of a triptych: Annunciation and saints Jerome and Lawrence is a paint painting by the Early Renaissance artist Paolo Schiavo. It dates from 1427 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1427, this tempera triptych by Florentine painter Paolo Schiavo presents a religious tableau typical of the early Renaissance. The central panel illustrates the Annunciation, flanked by depictions of Saints Jerome and Lawrence, while the work’s gold background and vivid palette underscore its devotional purpose.

Subject & Meaning

The central scene captures the moment Gabriel announces to Mary that she will bear the Christ child, a cornerstone narrative in Christian iconography. Adjacent panels feature Jerome, the biblical scholar, and Lawrence, the martyr saint, emphasizing themes of learning and sacrifice that complement the Annunciation’s message of divine intervention.

Technique & Style

Executed in tempera on panel, the composition employs delicate brushwork to render intricate patterns on the figures’ garments. A rich spectrum of blues, reds, pinks and greens creates a sense of material luxury, while the gold ground unifies the three panels and reflects the period’s affinity for luminous surfaces.

History & Provenance

Paolo Schiavo, active between 1397 and 1478, joined Florence’s Guild of Doctors and Apothecaries in 1428, a common affiliation for painters of his era. The surviving panels of this triptych are now part of the collection of the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin, having been separated from their original frame over time.

Context

Schiavo’s work shows the influence of his contemporary Masolino, with whom he later collaborated in Castiglione Olona in 1435. The painting reflects the transitional aesthetic of the early 15th‑century Florentine school, balancing Gothic ornamental richness with emerging naturalistic concerns.