Santa Francesca Romana Clothed by the Virgin
ca. 1445
Medium
Tempera on wood, gold ground
Dimensions
21 3/4 × 14 7/8 in. (55.2 × 37.8 cm) Framed: 26 1/8 × 19 1/4 in. (66.4 × 48.9 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Department
Robert Lehman Collection
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
Accession Number
1975.1.100
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the serene glow of its gold ground, *Santa Francesca Romana Clothed by the Virgin* (ca. 1445) by Antonio del Massaro da Viterbo captures a miraculous moment from the life of the Roman saint. Painted just five years after Francesca Romana's death in 1440, the panel depicts the Virgin Mary adorning the humble noblewoman—who founded a Benedictine community for oblates—with heavenly robes, surrounded by angels, the Christ Child, and her faithful dog, a symbol of loyalty in her legend. This intimate devotional image reflects the era's fervent veneration of newly canonized saints, blending spirit...