Santa Francesca Romana Holding the Christ Child 1440 - 1450

Antonio del Massaro da Viterbo painted this panel of Santa Francesca Romana in tempera and gold on wood, sometime in the late fifteenth or early sixteenth century. The effect of gilding transforms this devotional image. The reflective surface captures and manipulates light, creating an ethereal sense of divinity. This expensive material, gold leaf, would have been meticulously applied by hand to the prepared wood panel. The tempera paint, made from pigment mixed with egg yolk, was then carefully layered to build up the forms and colors. The skilled labor required for both the gilding and painting elevates the work, creating a reverential object to inspire awe in the viewer. The techniques, tools, and traditions employed belong to the histories of creative practices, craft, and fine art. By focusing on the materials, making, and social context, we gain a richer understanding of the artwork's full meaning, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.