Sassetta worked for a wealthy clientele, executing a limited number of paintings that focus on material splendor and refined detail. The glittering effect created by his technique of scratching into the painted surface to reveal the gold layer beneath—seen in passages like the angels’ wings and garments—would have been enhanced when viewed by candlelight. In this small domestic altarpiece, the Virgin is shown at once humble and exalted as she sits on the floor while angels crown her Queen of Heaven. Her delicate, idealized features are characteristic of Sassetta’s work, as is the emphasis on painting in transparent layers over the gold background. Tempera on wood with a gold ground, overall 80.6 x 50.2 cm.
Source: metmuseum.org
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