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Engaged molding on a polyptych panel

ca. 1440
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 956
Only the lancet top, which itself has suffered damage, survives of the engaged frame on this "Madonna and Child Enthroned with Two Cherubim" that John Pope-Hennessy has attributed to the Osservanza Master (an artist now widely identified with the young Sano di Pietro). Nevertheless, the narrow chamfered molding, with its arch echoing the perspective of the picture, lends an architectural strength to the enthroned Virgin and Child, and the remaining crockets still suggest stylized palm fronds arching over their heads. As the center panel of a large polyptych, the "Madonna and Child" would not originally have had engaged moldings along its sides, but would have been separated visually from its lateral panels by applied, perhaps spiral, colonettes. The lancet top was probably itself engaged to an extension of the main panel forming a triangular gable above it.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Engaged molding on a polyptych panel
  • Date: ca. 1440
  • Culture: Sienese
  • Medium: Poplar. Carved, gilt: deep red bole.
  • Dimensions: Overall: 56 11/16 × 27 3/16 in. (144 × 69 cm)
    Sight: 53 5/8 × 24 1/2 in. (136.2 × 62.3 cm)
  • Classification: Frames
  • Credit Line: Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
  • Object Number: 1975.1.41b
  • Curatorial Department: The Robert Lehman Collection

More Artwork

More Artwork
Madonna and Child Enthroned with Two Cherubim, Sano di Pietro (Ansano di Pietro di Mencio) Italian, Tempera on wood, gold ground
Madonna and Child Enthroned with Two Cherubim
Sano di Pietro (Ansano di Pietro di Mencio)
ca. 1440
Pharmacy Jar with the Arms of the Hospital of Santa Maria della Scala, Tin-glazed earthenware, Italian
Pharmacy Jar with the Arms of the Hospital of Santa Maria della Scala
Italian
1425–50
Restello, Poplar. Carved, gilt; orangebole, blue and red tempera., Italian, Venice
Restello
Italian, Venice
early 16th century
The Creation of the World and the Expulsion from Paradise, Giovanni di Paolo (Giovanni di Paolo di Grazia) Italian, Tempera and gold on wood
The Creation of the World and the Expulsion from Paradise
Giovanni di Paolo (Giovanni di Paolo di Grazia)
1445
Dish, Earthenware, tin-glaze (Majolica), Italian
Dish
Italian
early 15th century

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