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Zanobi di Jacopo Machiavelli , Italian, 1418/19-1479

Title

Virgin and Child Enthroned with Saints

Datec.1470

MediumTempera on wood panel

Dimensions

132.5 x 148.7 cm

Signedlower right: OPUS.CENOBII.DEMACHIAVELIS

Credit LinePurchased, 1861

Object numberNGI.108

DescriptionAccording to Giorgio Vasari - the well-known biographer of Italian Renaissance artists - Zanobi Machiavelli was a pupil of Benozzo Gozzoli. This opinion is certainly confirmed by his works, but his style seems also to have been influenced by Pesellino, and later orientated towards Filippo Lippi. The paintings produced by Machiavelli's workshop were numerous and the typologies were sometimes repeated, although with variants. Generally, his compositions have an elegant appearance but are rather crowded with figures.

Four saints accompany the Virgin and Child. St Bernardino of Siena is on the left, holding a roundel with Christ's monogram encircled by golden rays, along with St Mark with his gospel. To the right is St Louis of Toulouse in his bishop's garb, and St Jerome with the cardinal's hat and his translation of the Bible. All the saints have bare feet because the vividly coloured marble floor on which they stand is holy ground.

The presence in this altarpiece of St Bernardino of Siena and St Louis of Toulouse, two Franciscan saints, may suggest that the picture was painted for a church of this religious order.

(National Gallery of Ireland: Essential Guide, 2008)
ProvenanceOriginally in the Church of Santa Croce, Pisa; Mathew Uzielli, London, 1859; purchased, Christie's, London, sale of the collection of Mathew Uzielli, 1861 Label TextLittle is known about the Tuscan painter Machiavelli. This richly coloured devotional picture depicts Saint Bernardino of Siena on the left, holding a disc inscribed with Christ's monogram (IHS). Saint Mark stands beside him, holding his gospel book. To the right, Saint Louis of Toulouse is identifiable wearing his bishop's attire, while Saint Jerome, who translated the bible into Latin, is shown holding a book and pen, with a cardinal's hat at his feet. Saints Bernardino and Louis were members of the Franciscan Order, which suggests that this picture was painted for a church of that religious order.