The Virgin and Child with Saints

Surrounded by saints, the Virgin and Child preside over this devotional altarpiece painted around 1515, during the final years of Signorelli's long career. By this date, the revolutionary innovations of Leonardo, Raphael, and Michelangelo had transformed Italian painting, yet Signorelli maintained his own robust, forthright style. The National Gallery's two Signorelli paintings together demonstrate his range across his career. This late work shows the artist adapting to newer artistic currents while retaining the monumental solidity that characterized his best work.

The sacra conversazione format groups the saints symmetrically around the enthroned Madonna, following the standard conventions of central Italian altarpiece design. Signorelli's figures retain their characteristic solidity and weight, though the handling is somewhat broader than in his earlier, more tightly drawn works. The color scheme of rich reds, blues, and golds creates a suitably regal atmosphere for the devotional image.