Conegliano Altarpiece
The Conegliano Altarpiece or Madonna and Child with Angels and Saints is an oil painting produced in 1492 by Cima da Conegliano as the high altarpiece for the Duomo di Conegliano in his birthplace.[1]
| Madonna and Child with Angels and Saints | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist | Cima da Conegliano |
| Year | 1492 |
| Medium | Oil on wood |
| Dimensions | 235 cm × 150 cm (93 in × 59 in) |
| Location | Duomo of Conegliano |
History
It was commissioned in the 1490s by Francesco Codroipo and Giovanni della Pasqualina, at which time Cima was active in Venice under the influence of Giovanni Bellini. The central enthroned figure of the Madonna and Child is flanked to the left by John the Baptist, Nicholas of Bari and Catherine of Alexandria and to the right by Saint Apollonia, Francis of Assisi and Saint Peter. Pendentives on the dome in the background show John the Evangelist and Venice's patron saint Mark the Evangelist.[2]
In the 20th century, the painting was transferred onto canvas using a thermal roller, due to the precarious condition of its original wooden panel. In 2009, the painting was conserved again by the workshop of Renza Clochiatti Garla.
Description
The painting represents the Virgin enthroned at center, with the Baby Jesus on her lap. On the left are Saint John the Baptist and Saint Catherine of Alexandria. On the right are Saint Apollonia, Saint Francis of Assisi, and Saint Peter with an open book. The two on each side seem to support the architectural structure over them.
References
- "Article on Cima and the altarpiece" (in Italian).
- (in Italian) Conegliano. La città di Giambattista Cima - Capitale dell'enologia italiana, Anno 1, N°2 de L'illustrazione veneta (rivista monografica), Editori Associati, 2000, pp. 26–33.