Madonna and Child 1360 - 1365

Luca di Tommè painted this panel of the Madonna and Child in the mid-14th century, probably in Siena. Although it’s now in a museum, its original function was to inspire devotion, most likely in a church or private chapel. The composition follows a well-established formula. Mary’s dark cloak, the angels in the background, and the Christ Child’s gesture of blessing would all have been familiar visual cues for contemporary viewers. But this image also reflects a specific moment in the history of Siena. The inscription on the scroll held by the Madonna – “go sweet mother” – connects this image to a specific local prayer. The devotion to the Virgin Mary was a major part of Sienese civic identity. To understand this painting better, we can investigate the religious and political history of Siena at this time. We can look at the devotional practices that ordinary people engaged in. Doing this kind of social history helps us to understand how art both reflects and shapes people's beliefs.