Circle of Benedetto da Maiano (1442 - 1497), Madonna with Child

Circle of Benedetto da Maiano (Maiano, 1442 - Florence, May 27, 1497) Madonna with Child Terracotta and gold leaf, cm 67 x 37 x 23 The refined and elegant terracotta sculpture depicting the Madonna and Child, of clear Florentine origin from the second half of the 15th century, can be attributed to the circle of Benedetto da Maiano (1442-1497). Benedetto da Maiano, also known as Benedetto di Leonardo, was an Italian architect and sculptor. His artistic training took place within his family, thanks to the guidance of his father, the carver Leonardo d'Antonio, and contact with his two brothers, Giuliano da Maiano and Giovanni. He began his artistic activity as a sculptor, especially of carved wood, and with this technique he soon became famous, so much so that he decorated the ceilings of Palazzo Vecchio in Florence. In the 1470s he was one of the most sought-after sculptors in Florence, thanks to his soft and harmonious style, where naturalism, idealization and technical virtuosity coexisted in equal measure. He received important commissions, especially of busts for the city's aristocracy, among which the bust of Pietro Mellini (1474) and that of Filippo Strozzi (1476) stand out. In the Florentine artistic environment Bernardo was certainly held in high regard; this is also evident from Vasari, who, citing him on several occasions, also depicts him among the best and first artificers of our art to participate in beautiful speeches and disputes of importance. The sculpture appears as a true model of the elegant and learned Renaissance figurative culture, particularly evident in the refined decoration of the Madonna's mantle bordered in gold leaf, in the monumental and delicate modeling of the figures, in the sweetness of the Virgin's face, in the delicate foreshortening of the Child's head. The sculpture presents a composed, calm pyramidal structure, precious in its full forms, with soft and refined modeling, and in the warm color of the very fine textured terracotta. The Madonna, wearing a long-sleeved dress covered by a mantle, delicately holds the Child, who in turn places his small hand on that of his mother, in a gesture of great naturalness that demonstrates an elegant intimacy, typical of the Madonnas with Child made in Florence towards the end of the fifteenth century. The Virgin's fingers, resting on the Son's body, press on the surface, sinking the tender skin, creating a sincere and vibrant effect. A series of comparisons can be made with the great Madonna dell'Ulivo kept in the Cathedral of Prato (which echoes the gestures and movements of the sculpture in question), with the Madonna and Child of the Arciconfraternita della Misericordia in Florence, (stanza of the heads of the guards). Regarding the features, a similar treatment of the surfaces can be observed in the bust of S. Giovanni bambino kept at the Honolulu Academy of Arts, Honolulu (inv. 2298.1; Hawaii, USA). Innumerable works more or less closely referable to Bernardo and his workshop could still be cited in churches and collections especially in Tuscany and in various collections in Europe and America. It should be remembered that many of his works have been lost: we have news not only from Vasari, but also, more reliably, from the inventory of marbles, stones, figures, masserizie of more reason that were in his workshop in Via de' Servi place called Castellaccio, then detected by Leonardo del Tasso. Ultimately, Benedetto da Maiano presents himself as a very notable representative of Florentine culture in that extreme thirty years of the fifteenth century. His refined and elegant lines combined with careful attention to descriptive detail have been able to influence a large circle of artists orbiting around his figure. Starting from the pure source of Rossellinian art, he has tried to give his figures a more intense and dramatic life, his forms a greater amplitude. With Ars Antiqua it is possible to defer all amounts up to € 7,500 at ZERO RATE, for a total of 15 INSTALLMENTS. Ex. Tot. € 4,500 = Monthly installment € 300 for 15 months. Ex. Tot. € 3,600 = Monthly installment € 720 for 5 months. For amounts exceeding € 7,500 or for a longer deferral over time (over 15 installments), we can provide a customized payment. Contact us directly for the best quote. LIVE TV – SUNDAY 5.00 PM – 9.00 PM Dig.terr. 126 + 813 SKY – Streaming on our website www.arsantiquasrl.com and on our social networks Facebook and Youtube All the works proposed by Ars Antiqua are sold accompanied by a certificate of authenticity in accordance with the law and an accurate in-depth sheet. You can see the works directly at the Milan showroom gallery, in via Pisacane 55 and 57. We personally organize transport and delivery of the works, both for Italy and abroad.