The artwork titled “Nacelle,” created by the artist Giotto, dates from approximately 1305 to 1313 and is rendered in tempera on panel. Measuring 740 by 990 centimeters, this piece is a notable example of the Proto Renaissance art movement and falls within the genre of religious painting.
The artwork, characterized by its grand scale and rich use of tempera, depicts a religious scene set on a large sailing vessel. To the left, heavenly figures are depicted against an ethereal background, highlighting Giotto’s masterful use of space and composition. In the lower part of the artwork, figures presumed to be apostles or saints are arranged on the boat, each rendered with distinctive expressions of piety and solemnity. The scene captures a moment of divine intervention, as evidenced by the celestial beings and the serene figure to the right who appears to be walking on water, offering a gesture of salvation or blessing to a kneeling figure in the boat. The golden tones and meticulous detail imbue the piece with a sense of reverence and divine light, hallmark characteristics of Proto Renaissance religious art.
