Rucellai Madonna
Encyclopedia
The Madonna Rucellai is a painting by the Italian late medieval artist Duccio di Buoninsegna, housed in the Uffizi Gallery of Florence, Italy.
considered it by Cimabue
.
In 1591 it was moved to the Rucellai Chapel, whence the current name. Here it was seen in 1750 by Giuseppe Richa, the author of a large work about the Florentine churches. Finally recognized as by Duccio in 1790, the Madonna was transferred to the Uffizi in 1948. It was restored in 1989.
in the Louvre. Duccio however added a more Gothic flavor, and a greater humanity than the previous similar works, still imbued of the rigid Byzantine schemes. Duccio's Madonna even shows the trace of a smile.
It is likely that Duccio was inspired also by Gothic miniatures and ivory pieces from France.
History
The altarpiece was commissioned to Duccio on 15 aprile 1285 by the Compagnia dei Laudesi for the church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence. It was originally housed in the chapel of that company, later known as Bardi Chapel, where some late 13th century, perhaps by Duccio himself, were painted next to it. The art biographer Giorgio VasariGiorgio Vasari
Giorgio Vasari was an Italian painter, writer, historian, and architect, who is famous today for his biographies of Italian artists, considered the ideological foundation of art-historical writing.-Biography:...
considered it by Cimabue
Cimabue
Cimabue , also known as Bencivieni di Pepo or in modern Italian, Benvenuto di Giuseppe, was an Italian painter and creator of mosaics from Florence....
.
In 1591 it was moved to the Rucellai Chapel, whence the current name. Here it was seen in 1750 by Giuseppe Richa, the author of a large work about the Florentine churches. Finally recognized as by Duccio in 1790, the Madonna was transferred to the Uffizi in 1948. It was restored in 1989.
Description
The panel is the largest one from Italian 13th century art, and was inspired to Cimabue MaestàMaestà (Cimabue)
The Maestà is a painting by the Italian artist Cimabue, painted around 1280 and housed in Musée du Louvre of Paris, France.-History:It was acquired by the Louvre in 1813, as part of the Napoleonic spoiling of artworks in Italy, together with Giotto's Stigmata of St...
in the Louvre. Duccio however added a more Gothic flavor, and a greater humanity than the previous similar works, still imbued of the rigid Byzantine schemes. Duccio's Madonna even shows the trace of a smile.
It is likely that Duccio was inspired also by Gothic miniatures and ivory pieces from France.