Umbrian sculptor from the mid-13th century, Madonna Sedes

Umbrian sculptor from the mid-13th century Madonna Sedes Painted wood, 118 x 30 x 34 cm Provenance: Pietro Accorsi Gallery, Turin The wooden sculpture depicting the Virgin Mary, which we are considering here, represents a significant testimony to Umbrian sculptural production from the mid-13th century, a period when painted wooden sculpture enjoyed wide and lasting diffusion, particularly in rural and monastic devotional contexts. Although the work is now missing some fundamental elements, it nevertheless retains strong formal and iconographic clarity, allowing for a convincing historical-artistic classification. The Virgin is represented in the type of the Sedes Sapientiae (Throne of Wisdom): seated frontally, with an erect torso and hands originally positioned to hold the Child on her lap. The latter, now lost, would have been attached with wooden or metal pins, as clearly indicated by the holes still visible at the level of the Madonna's pelvis. The Virgin's face is oval and elongated, with softened features, almond-shaped eyes that are slightly lowered, and a barely perceptible hint of a smile, distant from both the more archaic Romanesque rigidity and Gothic openness. This formal balance suggests a dating within the 13th century. The rendering of the wooden surfaces, still legible despite the losses, shows a sober but careful workmanship, while the residual polychromy - with the mantle in dark tones and the sleeves decorated with red bands - confirms the original importance of the pictorial apparatus in reinforcing the symbolic and liturgical value of the image. From a stylistic and typological point of view, the work lends itself to direct comparisons with other wooden Madonnas from central Italy. Particularly illuminating are the comparisons with the Madonna of Cancanelle, now at the National Museum of Abruzzo, with the Madonna of Vallinfante at the Diocesan Museum of Camerino, and with the Madonna and Child from the collegiate church of Orticoli. These sculptures share a similar frontal presentation, a monumental conception of the Marian figure, and a still hierarchical, rather than affectionate, relationship between Mother and Child. These affinities confirm the work's belonging to a shared figurative language between Umbria and neighboring areas, characterized by the dissemination of common models reinterpreted by local masters. Of particular historical and collector interest is the presence, on the back of the sculpture, of a label from the Pietro Accorsi Antiquities gallery in Turin. Pietro Accorsi was one of the most important Italian antique dealers of the first half of the 20th century, known not only for his critical acumen but also for the famous Trivulzio Case, which led to the sale of part of Prince Luigi Alberico Trivulzio di Belgioioso's Milanese collection and the acquisition by Turin's public collections of masterpieces such as the Portrait of a Man by Antonello da Messina and a precious 15th-century illuminated Book of Hours with some illustrations attributed to Jan van Eyck. The presence of this mark therefore certifies the quality of the work and attests that it must have aroused the interest of a top-tier expert, who most likely marketed it during the last century. Only for Italy: with Ars Antiqua it is possible to pay in installments for all amounts up to a maximum of € 7,500 at ZERO INTEREST, for a total of 15 INSTALLMENTS Ex. Tot. € 4,500 = Monthly installment € 300 for 15 months. Ex. Tot. € 3,600 = Monthly installment € 720 for 5 months. For amounts over € 7,500 or for longer payment terms (more than 15 installments), we can provide a personalized payment plan. Contact us directly for the best quote. LIVE TV – SUNDAY 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM Dig.terr. 126 - Sky 824 – Streaming on our website www.arsantiquasrl.com and on our social media Facebook and Youtube All works offered by Ars Antiqua are sold with a certificate of authenticity in accordance with the law and a detailed informative sheet. It is possible to view the works directly at the gallery showroom in Milan, at via Pisacane 55 and 57. We personally organize the transport and delivery of works, both for Italy and abroad.