Madonna and Child

This Madonna and Child by Bartolo di Fredi, one of the most important Sienese painters of the second half of the fourteenth century, exemplifies the devotional imagery that was the lifeblood of Sienese artistic production. Bartolo, active from the 1350s through 1410, developed a style of lyrical sweetness and decorative richness that made his workshop one of the busiest in Siena. Now in the Rhode Island School of Design Museum, this panel reflects the enduring appeal of the Sienese Madonna tradition established by Duccio and Simone Martini.

Executed in egg tempera and gold leaf on panel, the Madonna and Child are presented with Bartolo's characteristic warmth and decorative refinement. Flowing drapery lines, delicate facial features, and elaborate punchwork in the gilded areas demonstrate the continued vitality of the Sienese goldsmith-painter tradition.