The Coronation of the Virgin
ca. 1380
Medium
Tempera on wood, gold ground
Dimensions
Overall, with engaged frame, 20 x 12 7/8 in. (50.8 x 32.7 cm); painted surface 17 5/8 x 10 1/2 in. (44.8 x 26.7 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Department
Robert Lehman Collection
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
Accession Number
1975.1.21
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant panel painting captures the Coronation of the Virgin, a cherished theme in late medieval Christian art. Created around 1380 by the Sienese artist Niccolò di Buonaccorso, the work shows the Virgin Mary being crowned by Christ amid a heavenly gathering of angels and saints, some holding musical instruments. Its modest size suggests it was likely intended for private devotion rather than a large altarpiece, inviting quiet contemplation. The use of tempera on wood with a gold ground heightens the sacred atmosphere, as the luminous gold leaf evokes divine light and the eternal realm o...