(Italian, circa 1370-1439)

Madonna and Child with Pomegranate, late 14th/early 15th century, tempera on punched and gilt wood panel, 25-1/4 x 18-1/8 in. (63.5 x 45.72 cm.); gilt wood tabernacle style frame, 38-1/2 x 32-7/8 x 5 in.

Provenance: Collection of Dr. Von Jurie, Vienna; Collection of Albert Figdor, Vienna until 1930; sold at auction in September1930; Carlo Bianchini, Orvieto, Italy, purchased in 2013 for 35,000 EU; The Estate of Dr. J. Clayton Davie and Family

Note: This painting has been attributed to Jacobello Del Fiore by two major scholars in the field, Leo Planiscig in 1926 and Max Friedlander in 1930 In 1970, Raimond Van Marle suggested the panel to be more likely from the Marches region. The Marches influenced Fiore's late 14th century work as he began to grow away from his father's influence into his own style. In a discussion of Marches region artist, Carlo Crivelli, Dr. Lauren Kilroy-Ewbank and Dr. Steven Zucker. state what is also true of Fiore's work in this panel, "The use of gold in many of his paintings, including this Madonna and Child, also indicates the importance of the two holy figures. There is gold on their halos and clothes. The gold also speaks to the global flow of materials at this time, with much of the gold in Europe coming from sub-Saharan Africa. Mary’s elaborate brocade clothing also points to the textile trade at this time. The design on the painted brocade looks similar to designs found on textiles imported from the eastern or southern Mediterranean regions. In the 15th century, certain areas of Italy, including Florence, also became important centers of textile production, and often replicated designs of foreign textiles."

The pomegranate is considered a symbol of Christ's passion, whose red kernels symbolize the blood shed by Jesus Christ for the salvation of humanity.

Literature (accompanied by facsimiles):  Planiscig, Von Leo, "Jacopello Dal Fiore", Jahrbuch der Kunsthistorischen Sammlungen in Wien. Neue Folge. Band I, Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Wien: Anton Schroll, 1926, pp. 85-91, ill. 87;

Figdor, A., & Falke, O. von. (1930). Die sammlung Albert Figdor, Wien: Erster Teil. Artaria, Glu??ckselig, Paul Cassirer, lot 4, ill.;

Marle, R. van. (1970). The development of the Italian schools of painting. Hacker, Vol. VII, p.319,  p.352;

Do you speak Renaissance? Carlo Crivelli, Madonna and child. (n.d.). https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/renaissance-reformation/early-renaissance1/venice-early-ren/v/do-you-speak-renaissance.

panel coated and cradled, evidence of pest damage verso, crackle, some vertical crackle; frame with abrasions