Madonna and Child with two Angels 1465

Filippo Lippi painted this panel of the Madonna and Child with two Angels in the mid-15th century, using tempera on wood. Tempera's quick-drying nature demands precision, and Lippi has achieved an extraordinary smoothness. Consider the ultramarine robe of the Virgin; this pigment, derived from lapis lazuli, was as precious as gold. Its use here signals the patron's wealth and Lippi's skill. Observe how the material of the paint contributes to the ethereal glow, a quality prized in religious art. The landscape is rendered with delicate brushwork, grounding the holy figures in a tangible reality. The labor-intensive process of panel preparation and pigment grinding, entrusted to workshop assistants, highlights the collaborative nature of artistic production at the time. Lippi, as the master, applied his hand to the final, critical layers, ensuring the painting's spiritual and aesthetic impact. By attending to materials, the processes, and social context, we see beyond the surface, acknowledging the layers of craft, labor, and meaning embedded in the work.