Susanna and the Elders
Gentile da Fabriano·c. 1399
Historical Context
Dating to around 1399, this early depiction of Susanna and the Elders by Gentile da Fabriano demonstrates his engagement with Old Testament narrative subjects. The theme of Susanna's virtue tested by corrupt elders was a popular subject in Italian painting, here rendered with the lyrical grace characteristic of the International Gothic. The Gothic era in European painting (c.1200-1400) was dominated by devotional works on gold ground, combining Byzantine formalism with growing Gothic naturalism.
Technical Analysis
The tempera panel shows the young artist's developing command of narrative composition, with attention to expressive gesture and decorative surface treatment.
