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Madonna with the child, St. John the Baptist, St. Francis and St. Anthony and a martyr
Agnolo Gaddi·1375
Historical Context
Agnolo Gaddi's sacra conversazione depicting the Madonna and Child with Saints John the Baptist, Francis, Anthony, and a martyr (c. 1375) exemplifies the multi-figure devotional altarpieces produced for Florentine churches in the late Trecento. Agnolo, son of the great Taddeo Gaddi and grandson-pupil of Giotto's workshop tradition, was the leading Florentine painter of the 1370s-1390s. The inclusion of Franciscan saints suggests the panel was commissioned for a Franciscan foundation.
Technical Analysis
Tempera and gold on panel. Agnolo Gaddi's characteristic palette of soft pinks, blues, and greens is complemented by elaborate tooled gold haloes and background, with figures arranged in the symmetrical format typical of Florentine sacra conversazione compositions.
