Madonna and Child with Saint Anthony Abbot and Saint Sigismund c. 1490 - 1495

Neroccio de’ Landi created this panel painting of the Madonna and Child with Saints around 1476, with tempera and gold leaf on wood. Look closely, and you can see the artist's labour-intensive process. Each stage demanded skill, from preparing the wooden panel to layering paint and applying delicate gold leaf. Note how the artist has employed hatching strokes to create the impression of depth and volume, in both the Madonna's drapery and the figures' faces. The underdrawing and gilding were likely completed by workshop assistants, while the artist reserved the painting of the figures for himself, demonstrating his artistic skill. This division of labour was typical of workshops in this period. The expensive materials, like gold, and skilled work reflected wealth and power, and the painting itself would have been commissioned by a wealthy patron. Considering the time, expertise, and materials required, this work is more than just a devotional image; it is a testament to craft, commerce, and the social structures of Renaissance Italy.