Polyptych of the Madonna and four saints
Bernardo Daddi·1332
Historical Context
Bernardo Daddi's polyptych of the Madonna and four saints, dated 1332, represents the standard multi-panel altarpiece format that dominated Italian Gothic church decoration. Such polyptychs placed the Virgin at center, flanked by saints chosen for their relevance to the commissioning institution or patron. Daddi's workshop produced numerous such ensembles for Florentine churches, establishing a model of elegant, accessible devotional painting that served the spiritual needs of a wide urban audience.
Technical Analysis
Tempera and gold on panel in multi-panel polyptych format, with the enthroned Virgin at center and standing saints on lateral panels. Daddi's lyrical figure style, soft chromatic harmonies, and accomplished gold tooling demonstrate the refined workshop production that made him Florence's most sought-after painter of the 1330s.
