Bennozzo Gozzoli
The Virgin and Child Enthroned among Angels and Saints
1461–2
London, National Gallery
Italian Altarpieces at the National Gallery of London The exhibition ‘Devotion by Design: Italian Altarpieces before 1500’ shows a selection of Italian altarpieces ranging from the 13th century to the 15th century, all of them coming from the National Gallery’s permanent collection.
6 July – 2 October 2011
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Source: National Gallery of London / theartwolf.com
Featuring more than 40 works, this summer exhibition investigates the development of altarpieces, and their original functions and locations. According to the press release of the exhibition, “visitors to the National Gallery will encounter these works in an unfamiliar way“. The frames of certain works have been removed, and some altarpieces are exhibited free-standing (such as Francesco Botticini’s impressive “Saint Gerolamo Altarpiece”). In addition, some of the works are not normally on public view.
A lot of effort has been put into depicting altarpieces in their original context. One of the rooms in the exhibition enables the visitor “to experience what it was like to be inside an Italian Renaissance church” including medieval music, an altar cross, and other liturgical furniture.
One of the most beautiful works in the exhibition is Sassetta’s “The Funeral of Saint Francis”, a colorful panel executed in 1437-44. Another highlight is Bennozzo Gozzoli’s “The Virgin and Child Enthroned among Angels and Saints” (1461-62), which shows the influence of Fra Angelico.
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