Style of Gentile da Fabriano (Fabriano, about 1370 - 1427, Rome)
The Virgin of Humility, with a Donor, about 1425-1475
Gold and tempera on poplar panel , 100 x 58 cm (39 3/8 x 22 13/16 in.)
General admission for children 17 years and under is always free
This vertical tempera painting shows the image of Mary sitting on the ground, holding Jesus. The Virgin’s body is covered entirely by a dark robe with gold trim. Her head is tilted to your left, her lips are pursed, and her eyes look out at the viewer. Her hands, with long thin fingers, lightly touch the child’s arm. The naked child appears to be perched on her lap, looking down and pointing at a figure in the corner to your left. Both the Virgin and child have haloes with the inscription, AVE MARIA PLENA DOMIN. These words are also inscribed throughout the border of the Virgin’s robe. In the bottom corner to your left is a medium-skinned figure in profile wearing a hooded red robe. The figure, the donor, stands with hands clasped looking up at the child. The painting’s background is mostly gold, with black on the bottom. The frame is rounded at the top with floral carvings and a carved Madonna and Child at the top center.
Early Italian Room
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.