Coronation of the Virgin1420s · Study 1944.79

Context from the museum

This picture’s original use is uncertain. Its size and shape are appropriate for a predella (the pedestal portion of an altarpiece), which often consists of several small panels. However, the Coronation of the Virgin almost never appears on predellas. The panel’s minute detail and rich finish suggest it may have been an object for private devotion. This is believed to be an early work by Fra Angelico, whose real name was Guido di Pietro, a Dominican monk in Florence. Here, an angel holds the Virgin’s train while she kneels to receive the crown offered by Christ. The scene glimmers with gold; the thrones are draped with starry tapestries, the walls are hung with gold cloth, and Christ himself radiates light.

Museum description reproduced from its CC0 open-access record. Read the original catalog entry.

A detail to notice

Since its acquisition in 1944 the authorship of this painting has been updated from the workshop of Fra Angelico to the master himself.

Observation supplied by the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Read the dimensions before the image

The selected unframed measurement for Coronation of the Virgin is 37.2 cm wide and 27 cm high, equivalent to approximately 14.6 × 10.6 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 1.38:1. The rectangular bounding area is 0.10 square meters; it describes the measured footprint, not the amount of paint or the monetary value.

On an illustrative 300 cm wall, the recorded width occupies 12.4% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 131.4 cm on each side before adding a frame. These are calculations by Physical Art For Crypto using museum measurements. They are not the museum’s display recommendations.

Questions to bring to your own collection

With Coronation of the Virgin in view, identify one feature you can point to, then distinguish what the museum records from your personal response. Keep its medium, tempera and gold on wood panel, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.

• Which part of this horizontal composition catches your eye first?
• Would a 37.2 cm width still suit the space after allowing for furniture and a frame?
• What surface detail would you need to see in person or in a close photograph?