Virgin and Child

Relief in painted and gilt wood. The three figures, which are carved from a single piece of wood, are on a raised platform. In the centre on a step is the Virgin seated on a throne in a niche. She holds a book in her left hand, and with her right supports the Child. The Child is turned to the left and with right arm extended presents a ring to St. Catherine of Alexandria. St. Catherine is turned three-quarters to the right, and with her left hand holds the wheel, which is balanced on a parapet beside the throne. On the right is St. Helena holding the cross. Above the throne God the Father holds a crown over the Virgin's head. The edges of his mantle are supported by an angel on either side. The Virgin's robe and the cloaks of the two Saints are gold, and her cloak and the dress of St. Helena are dark blue. The cloak of God the Father and the lining of the cloaks of the Virgin and St. Catherin are green. The lining of St. Helena's cloak is brown with white and blue decoration. The lining of the clock of God the Father, the dress of St. Catherine, and the interior of the Virgin's sleeve are red. God the Father and St. Catherine have gilt haloes, that of God the Father being decorated in red with a cruciform design. The flesh parts are painted naturalistically, and the hair is gilded.

The relief is related by Maclagan and Longhurst (p.115) to the altar of Sant'Abbondio in the Cathedral at Como (1514), which has been compared by Meyer (Oberitalienische Fruhrenaissance, ii, Berlin, 1900, pp. 216-21) with an altarpiece in San Lorenzo at Morbegno carved by Angelo del Main,o apparently from designs by Gaundenzio Ferrari (1516-26). As noted by Maclagan and Longhurst, there is some doubt whether the Morbegno altarpiece and the altarpiece at Como were produced in the same studio. A third altarpiece in the same style in San Lorenzo at Ardenno (1540) also shows some affinity with the present relief. It is likely that a small Lamentation over the Dead Christ in Berlin (No. 3012/Sch. 332) is by the same hand.

Purchased in Florence.

The Virgin mary is enthroned holding the baby Jesus on her right knee and a book in her lewft. St Catherine stands on the left holding out her hand to receive the ring from the Child which on the right side St Helena stands holding a cross. Above the throne God the Father, flanked by two angels holds a crown suspended over the Virgin's head.

This relief is similar in style to the altarpice of Sant' Abbondio in the Cathedral at Como dated 1514.

44-1884