Maria Lactans , Quattrocento

Our painting is on poplar wood characteristic of the works of the Italian Quattrocento.
The gold background has the particularity of being stuccoed and obviously engraved.
Our Virgin with milk or nursing Virgin (Viergo lactans) is a variant of the theme of the Virgin and Child.
Christian iconography places this subject in a great moment of intimacy, witnessed by the Virgin gently taking the foot of Christ.
The detail of the Virgin's lactation is left visible from the cleaning of the work...

Sano di Pietro, Italian painter of the first Renaissance in Siena, was at the beginning of the 15th century among the most important artists in the panorama of the Sienese school of his century.
He was born in 1406 and became a well-known painter in 1428. He trained with Sassetta and Giovanni Di Paolo.
He seems to sign his works "SANIS PETRI DE SENI". He was not just a painter of altarpieces and, in fact, he also made frescoes, miniatures and bookbindings.
He died in 1481 and his death notice is:
Pictor famosus et homo tous deditus Deo (a famous painter and a man entirely dedicated to God).

Painting in tempera on a gold background. Central Italy, mid 15th century.

Dimension painting: 60x41cm