Ugolino di Nerio

In medieval Italian churches, painted altarpieces served as the focal point for worshippers during the rituals of faith. The figures of Jesus, Mary, and eight saints are framed by a golden background that would have glistened in the flickering candlelight of the church.

<i>Year in Review (1961)</i>. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (November 1-26, 1961).

Year in Review (1961)

<i>Sacred Gifts and Worldly Treasures: Medieval Masterworks from the Cleveland Museum of Art</i>. J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, CA (October 30, 2007-January 20, 2008); Frist Art Museum, Nashville, TN (February 13-June 7, 2009).

Sacred Gifts and Worldly Treasures: Medieval Masterworks from the Cleveland Museum of Art

J. Paul Getty Musuem, Los Angeles (10/30/2007 - 1/20/2008) and Frist Center for the Visual Arts, Nashville, TN (2/13/2009 - 6/7/2009): "Sacred Gifts and Worldly Treasures: Medieval Masterworks from the Cleveland Museum of Art"

A horizontally oriented tempera and gold painting depicts the Virgin Mary holding baby Christ, flanked by four saints in five arched panels. All have light skin tones and gold halos. Mary wears a dark blue cloak over a white veil, while Christ wears red. From left to right, the saints wear brown, pink, green, and red garments, holding books, a cross, and a vessel. Five triangular peaks above depict small figures and a central crucifixion.

A horizontally oriented tempera and gold painting on wood depicts five arched panels. Centrally, a dark-blue robed Virgin Mary holds a Christ child in orange who reaches toward her cheek. Four saints, including St. Francis and St. Mary Magdalene, occupy flanking panels. Above, five triangular gables feature a central Crucifixion and four smaller busts. All figures have medium-light skin, gold halos, and red inscriptions, set against gold backgrounds within a patterned red frame.

Saint Francis wears the habit of a Franciscan friar. An opening reveals a wound in his side, stigmata received while praying on the mountain of La Verna. A figure appeared to him during his meditations and he felt the wounds of Christ’s crucifixion appearing on his own body.

Saint Francis

John the Baptist said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness ‘Make straight the way of the Lord!’” Consequently, he was often depicted as a wild man, indicated here by his messy hair and the hair shirt peeking out from beneath his red robe.

John the Baptist

James can be recognized here primarily through the inscription, as he lacks any particular attribute that singles him out. Mary Magdalene, in contrast, has two identifying attributes: she is dressed in red, a color she is often depicted wearing, and holds a jar of ointment with which to wash Christ’s feet.

Virgin and Child with Saints

Ugolino di Nerio

Description

Virgin and Child with Saints

Ugolino di Nerio

See Also

Visually Similar by AI

Contact Us

Artwork Page for Virgin and Child with Saints

Details / Information for Virgin and Child with Saints

Virgin and Child with Saints

Ugolino di Nerio

Description

Virgin and Child with Saints

Ugolino di Nerio

See Also

Visually Similar by AI

Contact Us