Andrea da Firenze | 1346-1379

Currently on display: Palazzo Farnese Civic Museums, Arty Gallery

This small altarpiece could be attributed to the workshop of Andrea da Firenze (Andrea Bonaiuti) due to the sober and restrained elegance of the figures, set within a minimalist space. The two side panels depict four martyr saints who are not necessarily identifiable, save for the palm of martyrdom. The Annunciation, at the top, separates the angel from the Virgin, which is an aesthetic way of representing the separation between the divine and the human. On the central panel, the Madonna is enthroned, surrounded by two angels, with the Christ Child on her lap. What is interesting about this type of gilded background is that the decorative details appear to be engraved, lending a very elegant sense of materiality.

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