Description
The Virgin and Child Enthroned with Saints painting by Carlo Crivelli is a masterpiece of Italian Renaissance art featuring stunning composition and a rich palette of vibrant colors. The work is in the original size of 191 x 196 cm and was painted in oil on a wooden board.
The central image of the painting is the Virgin Mary seated on a throne with the Child Jesus on her lap, surrounded by saints and angels. The composition is symmetrical and balanced, with the saints and angels placed in two groups on either side of the Virgin and Child. The figure of the Virgin Mary is especially impressive, with her deep red dress and her crown of gold and jewels.
Crivelli's artistic style is characterized by his attention to detail and his detailed and painstaking painting technique. Each figure is accurately and realistically painted, and the details in the jewelry, textiles, and landscapes are stunning. Crivelli's technique of painting with transparent and opaque layers of paint creates a depth and lightness in the work that is impressive.
The history of painting is fascinating. It was commissioned by the Sforza family in 1472 for the church of San Francesco in Matelica, Italy. The work was transferred to the church of San Domenico in the same city in the 18th century, where it remained until it was acquired by the National Museum of Ancient Art in Lisbon in 1884.
A little-known aspect of the work is that Crivelli included his signature on the painting in an ingenious way. At the bottom of the Virgin's throne, Crivelli painted a golden scarab, which is a reference to her last name, which means "scarab" in Italian. Also, on the bottom edge of the painting, Crivelli painted a Latin inscription that reads "Carlo Crivelli of Venice painted me."
In summary, the painting Virgin and Child Enthroned with Saints by Carlo Crivelli is an impressive masterpiece of Italian Renaissance art that features detailed and painstaking painting technique, balanced composition, and rich palette of vibrant colors. Its history and ingenious details make this work even more fascinating and valuable for art lovers.