The Coronation of the Virgin

Bartolo di Fredi's Coronation of the Virgin (1388), now at the Civic and Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art in Montalcino, was created for one of the churches in the hill town south of Siena where Bartolo maintained strong patronage connections. The Coronation of the Virgin was among the most popular subjects in late Gothic Italy, symbolizing the ultimate glorification of the Madonna and serving as the devotional centerpiece of many altarpiece programs. Bartolo's version reflects the Sienese preference for elegant linearity and celestial radiance.

Tempera and gold leaf on panel with extensive tooled gold ground creating a shimmering celestial backdrop. The figures are arranged in a symmetrical, hieratic composition with delicate facial modeling and elaborate textile patterns rendered in fine brushwork.