Restored in 1999 with funding from Ms. Kevin Hogan and Tim Croak.

This painting of the Madonna of Humility may have been executed in the first quarter of the fifteenth century; it is thought to have originally been in the church of Santa Maria della Celestia and transferred to San Francesco della Vigna in 1569 when the Celestia complex was severely damaged by a  gunpowder explosion in the nearby Arsenale. Once relocated to the Franciscan church, the Madonna was placed above the tomb of the founder of the Capuchin Order, Brother Matteo dei Bassi.

A significant example of the late medieval image type known as the “Madonna of Humility,” the painting shows the Virgin Mary seated humbly on the ground; she is flanked by Saint Catherine on one side and a female martyr saint on the other. Mary holds the Christ Child tenderly in her lap as he suckles at her breast.

The attribution of the painting remains a matter of debate. Given that artists from the Marche, Umbria, and Tuscany were present in Venice in the early fifteenth century participating in the decoration of the Doge’s Palace, there is a distinct possibility that the panel may very well be the work of a non-Venetian painter.

The multicolored marble frame dates from the late sixteenth century, following the transfer of the painting to San Francesco della Vigna.

The painting was restored by conservator Paola Borghese and the frame by conservator Marina Zaffalon, with the guidance of project director Sandro Sponza of the Superintendency of Fine Arts of Venice.

For select projects, conservation dossiers in Italian containing limited textual and photographic documentation may be available for consultation by appointment at the Venice office of Save Venice and the Rosand Library & Study Center. For inquiries, please contact us at venice@savevenice.org.

Unidentified artist
Madonna of Humility
Early fifteenth century, tempera on panel
101 x 80 cm

Unidentified artist
Marble Frame
Late sixteenth century, marble