Madonna with belt by Benozzo Gozzoli

Florentine artist Benozzo Gozzoli wrote this altar image for the San Fortunato church in Monte Falco. He painted the scene when Madonna descends from the sky and gives to the apostle Thomas, who was not present at Her death, burial and ascension to heaven and therefore did not believe in what happened, the belt from her dress.

In the limit, the painter placed six compositions with episodes from the life of Mary: Her Christmas, the wedding with Joseph, the Annunciation, the Nativity, the Circumcision of Jesus and the Assumption of Our Lady. Apprentice of Beato Angelico, Gozzoli took from his mentor a love for bright, lyrical compositions written in radiant, transparent colors. Maria sits on a cloud surrounded by angels, one of whom plays the lute. Saint Thomas, falling on one knee, receives with reverence the belt from Her hands.

The golden background seems to penetrate everywhere, filling the tender and juicy colors – blue, pink, red – with radiance. The depicted scene is filled with air and is marked by that elevated mood in which the apostle is. Scenes from the life of the Mother of God, placed below, are diverse in their decision.

In the “Nativity of Christ”, the cattle, occupying the whole space, is illuminated by the radiance of the Infant emanating from the Infant. Maria kneels before the Son, prayerfully clasping his hands and looking at Him with tenderness, Joseph sits with his cheek on his hand, and looks at Jesus with tender emotion, and the ox and donkey bow to Him, feeling the sacredness of what is happening. Thanks to paints, lively postures, gestures and the subtly conveyed mood of the characters, these images evoke a sense of magic.