Gentile da Fabriano, Madonna and Child with Angels

Description

The "Madonna and Child with Musician Angels" is an autograph painting by Gentile da Fabriano, made with tempera technique on wood, measuring 115 x 64 cm. and is kept in the National Gallery of Umbria in Perugia.  On the long and waving cartouche containing the musical graphics,  held by the angels, we read: "REGINA COELI LETARE ALLELUJA", while on the halo of the Madonna, "AVE MARIA GRATIA PLENA DOMINUSTECUM".Probably referable to the early fifteenth century (in any case no later than 1410, perhaps shortly before the artist's stay in Venice), it is hypothesized that it was part, as the main panel, of a polyptych made for the church of San Domenico in Perugia. Art history scholars highlight in the present painting – despite the poor state of preservation and a substantial restoration –  many assonances with the Valle Romita Polyptych (Pinacoteca di Brera), presenting – equally visible – confirmations of greater naturalness and freshness, especially in the angels bearing the long musical cartouche.