Madonna and Child by Lorenzo Monaco
In the church of the village of Monte Oliveto, near Florence, was this polyptych by Monaco in 1410. The central panel is reserved for the Virgin and Child accompanied by two angels. In the side tables are pairs of saints: Bartholomew and John the Baptist on the left; Tadeo and Benedict on the right. Three small tables crown each of the groups: an Annunciation on the sides and Christ Blessing in the center. This polyptych confirms the colorful and decorative skill of the artist, demonstrating mastery of his expressive skills, emphasizing the contours of clothing and figures with a harmony and impeccable ease. The gold and bright colors are filled with light, in tune with the style of the thumbnails that Monaco performed in the scriptorium of the monastery of Santa Maria degli Angeli, where he lived as Camaldolese monk.