Madonna di Ognissanti Giotto di Bondone (1266-1337)

Description of Giotto’s Madonna with Child and Two Angels

The famous depiction of the Madonna seated on the throne was painted in Florence by the skilled painter Giotto Di Bondoni. As historians have established, the fresco was completed around 1310. The artist produced it especially for the Franciscan church.

In creating the Madonna of Onissanti, the author adhered to traditional iconographic canons in the creation of her image. The image and pose of the child were also similar to similar images. But the only deviation from the iconography of those times was still there.

The holy men and angels seated around the throne are depicted with their faces turned in profile. Thanks to this technique, the composition no longer resembled a prayer image. It was enriched with action and drama.

On the fresco, the Holy Virgin is depicted seated half-turned to the viewer. The majestic figure is emphasized by the deep folds of her clothes. Her image is filled with weightiness and realism. It suggests that the Madonna is first of all an earthly woman of flesh and blood, not an inhabitant of heaven.

On her left knee is the infant Jesus, the future Savior of mankind. Mother and child are seated on a golden throne symbolizing the divine kingdom.

This throne is surrounded by many minor characters. Among them are heavenly angels and saints. Their figures are considerably inferior in density and scale to the Virgin Mary. Their robes are lighter and lighter than hers. The heroes surrounding the Madonna have one thing in common. Their faces are full of awe. They look with hope to the Virgin Mary and her child.

The fresco "Madonna Ognissanti" is one of the most beautiful and majestic works of the author. He was able to combine in it a subtle divine energy with the density of the material world. Each character depicted here has volume and energy, a rarity in the iconography of the time.