Madonna and Child Enthroned with Saints Peter and Paul and Angels 1341 - 1375

Lippo Vanni made this panel painting in the mid-14th century, using tempera paint on wood. Tempera is an ancient medium, made by mixing pigments with a binder – often egg yolk. Look closely, and you’ll notice the painstaking detail. Vanni builds up thin, translucent layers to create depth and luminosity. The gold leaf, carefully applied, illuminates the halos and the background, enhancing the divine nature of the figures depicted. Creating these paintings required a highly skilled workshop, with specialized artisans preparing the wood panel, grinding pigments, and applying the delicate gold leaf. These artisanal practices were essential to the overall aesthetic and meaning of the artwork. The value was less in the materials themselves than the labor invested. By understanding the materials and processes behind this painting, we appreciate the rich history of artistic creation and the vital role of skilled labor in bringing these sacred images to life.