The Madonna and Child enthroned with Four Angels, Saint John the Baptist and Saint Catherine
Luca di Tommè (fl. Siena 1356 – Siena 1389)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1356 - 1362
Materials
Oil on panel
Measurements
343 x 152 mm (13 1/2 x 6 in)
Place of origin
Siena
Order this imageCollection
Polesden Lacey, Surrey
NT 1246463
Caption
This panel probably once formed part of a triptych with two wings attached to each side by hinges. It presents for veneration the Virgin and Child enthroned in heavenly splendour, flanked by Saint John the Baptist with and Saint Catherine of Alexandria with her signature attribute of a palm frond. Divine glory is conveyed by the Virgin’s starry blue mantle, by the three angels suspending a cloth of honour over the holy pair and, characteristically for a work of the Medieval Sienese School, by a radiant and richly decorated red and gold ground.
Summary
Oil painting on panel, The Madonna and Child Enthroned by Luca di Tommè (fl. Siena 1356 – Siena 1389), 1356-1362. Pointed arch. The Madonna enthroned, in a blue robe with gold stars, the Christ Child held on her left arm; left Saint John the Baptist and Saint Catherine of Alexandria wearing a pink cloak over a blue and gold dress, holding a palm of martyrdom; three angels hold a gold curtain behind the Madonna. It is probably the central panel of a triptych.
Provenance
Said to have belonged to Prince André Gagarene (Andrey Gagarin) (1855–1920) and to have been exhibited at St Petersburg in 1909; date of acquisition by Mrs Greville unrecorded; The bequest of Margaret (Anderson) McEwan, The Hon. Mrs Ronald - later Dame Margaret - Henry Fulke Greville, DBE (1863-1942) from probate records linked with the donation of the property to the National Trust in 1943. This item found on the record for Polesden Lacey pictures, drawings etc., stored in the cellar, page 160.
Credit line
Polesden Lacey, The McEwan Collection (National Trust)
Makers and roles
Luca di Tommè (fl. Siena 1356 – Siena 1389), artist
References
Les anciennes Ecoles des Peinture dans les Palais et Collections privées Russes, St Petersburg, 1909, p. 21, ill. Gore 1957 F. St John Gore, 'Pictures in National Trust Houses, The Burlington Magazine, 1957, p. 176, pl. XV Berenson 1968 B. Berenson, Italian Pictures of the Renaissance, Central and North Italian Schools, 3 vols. London 1968, p.225 Fehm 1970 S. A. Fehm, Jr., Luca de Tommé, Dissertation, Yale University, 1970 , pp. 48ff., no. 9, pl. 18 Fehm 1973 S. A. Fehm, Jr., The Collaboration of Niccolo Tegliacci and Luca de Tommé, Malibu, California, 1973 , p. 16, pl. 13 Benedictis 1976 C. De Benedictis, 'Per il catalogo di Niccolò Tegliacci', Paragone, 311, 1976, p. 76 Benedictis 1979 C. de Benedictis, La Pittura Senese 1330-1370, Florence, 1979, p.88
