Cenni di Pepo, called Cimabue, Santa Trinita Madonna

1280-90
Tempera on wood, cm 425x243

Inv. 1890, n. 8343

The picture originally stood on the high altar of Santa Trinita church in Florence. The iconography is frequent in medieval painting and represents the Madonna enthroned with Child and angels, a pattern commonly said Maestà as shows the Virgin as queen of Paradise. In the lower part are four biblical figures, symbolizing foundations of Christ's kingdom: the prophets Jeremiah and Isaiah under lateral archs, Abraham and king David under the chair of the throne. If the composition still reflects Byzantine tradition, the perspective of the throne and sweet features of faces reveal how much Cimabue looked on naturalistic change in art, divulged in these years by Giotto.

Restored 1993