Madonna of Humility, The Blessing Christ, Two Angels, and a Donor [obverse] c. 1380 - 1390

Andrea di Bartolo painted this 'Madonna of Humility, The Blessing Christ, Two Angels, and a Donor' panel. The composition draws the eye upwards, following a hierarchical arrangement from the earthly donor at the bottom right, to the Madonna and Child, then to Christ in the apex. The artist uses colour to create symbolic distinctions. The Madonna's deep blue robe is contrasted with the gold background, highlighting her divine status yet rooting her in a maternal, human reality. This contrast destabilizes the traditional iconographic representation of the Madonna, complicating interpretations of divinity and humanity. By positioning the donor in the same pictorial space, Bartolo blurs the lines between the sacred and the profane, challenging the viewer's understanding of religious devotion. Notice the texture of the gold leaf, its reflective surface not just embellishes but activates the pictorial space, engaging the viewer in a dynamic interplay of light and meaning.