Madonna and Child with Saints Andrew, Benedict, Bernard, and Catherine of Alexandria with Angels [entire triptych] before 1387

Agnolo Gaddi painted this triptych of the Madonna and Child with Saints and Angels in Florence, sometime in the late 14th century. Its iconography is quite traditional, yet it offers a window into the religious and social values of its time. Commissioned for a private chapel or a wealthy patron's home, the painting reflects the importance of religious devotion in Florentine society and the Church's influence on artistic production. The choice of saints, including Andrew, Benedict, Bernard, and Catherine of Alexandria, speaks to the patron's personal affiliations or the specific needs of their community. The use of expensive materials like gold leaf underscores the patron's wealth and status. To understand the painting more deeply, we can investigate the social, economic, and religious contexts in which it was created. Archival documents, such as guild records and religious texts, can help reveal the complex interplay between artistic patronage, religious belief, and social identity in late medieval Florence. This can emphasize how art is so reliant on its surrounding culture.