Madonna and Child with Saints Mary Magdalen and Sebastian 1880 - 1946

Icilio Federico Ioni painted this ‘Madonna and Child with Saints Mary Magdalen and Sebastian’ with tempera and gold leaf on wood. Here, traditional materials are used with a visible engagement with the art of the early Italian Renaissance. Take a closer look and you’ll see the inherent qualities of the gold, which is luminous and reflective, catching and playing with the light in the room. The tempera paint is matte and opaque, laid on with precision using fine brushes. The gold leaf is applied to the background and halos, areas of the Madonna's dress, creating a sense of the divine. Ioni has painstakingly constructed this work with a distinctive, self-conscious archaism. The work reflects an aesthetic engagement with the past and a desire to connect with its rich cultural heritage. But that doesn’t mean we should take it at face value. Instead, understanding the context of its making helps us appreciate the full meaning of this artwork, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.