The Virgin and Child (HUAM 1926.41)
What makes this Italian panel painting unique?
The Chrysography and symmetry reflect the lingering Early Christian values throughout Western Europe in the late 13th century and suggest the blurring of artistic boundaries brought forth by the Crusades. Italian artists acknowledged the artistic techniques of Byzantine icons and incorporated them into their paintings to evoke divine presence. Therefore, the understanding that icons served as a vessel between Earth and Heaven resonated with multiple generations of artists in Europe well after the final Crusade.