The artwork, “Madonna and Child Enthroned with Four Angels, the Archangels Michael and Raphael, and St. Gusto and St. Zenobius” by Domenico Ghirlandaio, was created between 1480 and 1485. This Early Renaissance religious painting, measuring 200 by 190 centimeters, is rendered in oil, panel, and tempera. It is currently housed in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy.
In the artwork, the Virgin Mary is depicted seated on a throne, tenderly holding the infant Christ. Surrounding them are four angels, archangels Michael and Raphael, and saints Gusto and Zenobius. The scene is rich in color and detail, with the figures positioned against a backdrop suggestive of divine and regal presence. The angels and saints present a symmetrical composition, contributing to the balanced and harmonious aesthetic typical of Renaissance artwork. The opulent garments and intricate detailing reflect the period’s artistic emphasis on realism and divine beauty.
