Description
The painting Madonna and Child with Six Saints by Matteo Di Giovanni is an Italian Renaissance masterpiece dating from the 15th century. The work is in the National Gallery of Art in Washington and is one of the most outstanding pieces of the collection.
The artistic style of the painting is typical of the Italian Renaissance, with meticulous attention to detail and a precise and detailed painting technique. The composition is very balanced, with the figure of the Virgin Mary in the center surrounded by six saints, each of whom has their own personality and expression.
Paint color is vibrant and rich, with a range of warm and cool tones creating a sense of depth and dimension. Light and shadow are used skilfully to bring the figures to life and create a sense of movement and dynamism in the composition.
The history of the painting is fascinating, as it is believed to have been commissioned by the Piccolomini family of Siena for their chapel in the church of San Francesco. The work was later acquired by Cardinal Fesch and finally found its way to the National Gallery of Art in Washington in 1949.
One of the lesser known aspects of the painting is the presence of a small figure of a child at the bottom right of the composition. It is believed that this child could be a representation of the artist's son, which adds a personal and emotional touch to the work.
In summary, Matteo Di Giovanni's painting Madonna and Child with Six Saints is an Italian Renaissance masterpiece that combines meticulous painting technique with balanced composition and rich color palette. Its fascinating history and hidden details add even more depth and meaning to this exceptional work of art.