Why was this made, and how was it used?
This painting could have been made for public or private devotional practices. Many Italian panel paintings were portable in size and weight and, over decades or centuries, could be transferred from an elite home to a church. Many thirteenth-century Italian panel paintings were displayed on altars to draw a viewer’s attention. Others were commissioned by private patrons. Independent panels that were not part of a diptych or a triptych were typically used in a domestic setting.
During this period, many Christians sought a stronger emotional connection with the Virgin and baby Jesus. Not only did Italian Christians wish to be physically close to these paintings, but they also wanted to be emotionally and spiritually closer to them. Thus, by placing these panel paintings in a home, individuals could always be around images of the Virgin and Child even when they were not attending mass.