Madonna and Child with Saint Jerome and Saint Louis of Toulouse
Painting on panel, arched top format • Cima da Conegliano (Giovanni Battista Cima)
Style & Movement
Venetian High Renaissance
Medium & Technique
Oil and tempera on wood panel. Techniques include glazing for atmospheric perspective in the background, sfumato in the transitions of the flesh tones, and detailed linear perspective in the architectural background.
Creation Period
c. 1500–1510
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 210 cm x 120 cm; Large vertical arched format (altarpiece).
Subject Description
A 'Sacra Conversazione' (Sacred Conversation) featuring the Virgin Mary and Christ Child seated in a landscape. To the left is Saint Jerome, depicted as a penitent hermit with a rock; to the right is Saint Louis of Toulouse in bishop's robes. The background features a detailed hill town reminiscent of Conegliano and its castle, symbolizing the earthly and heavenly Jerusalem.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Very Good. The paint layers appear stable with high luminosity, suggesting professional restoration in the past to maintain the clarity of the Venetian palette.
Estimated Market Value
$5,000,000 – $8,000,000 USD (based on rarity and condition for a High Renaissance master panel).
Auction Estimate
$4,000,000 – $6,000,000 USD
Provenance History
Commissioned for an ecclesiastical setting in the Venetian Republic (likely a church in Venice or the Veneto). Later transitioned into major museum or private collections during the 19th-century secularization of Italian religious sites.
Art Historical Significance
Cima da Conegliano was a primary bridge between the late Gothic tradition of Bellini and the High Renaissance lyricism of Giorgione. This work is significant for its early 16th-century integration of landscape as an emotional and narrative extension of the divine figures, a hallmark of the Venetian school.
Notable Features
The distinctive 'Cima' landscape featuring a detailed fortress on a hill; the refined botanical details in the foreground; and the rich, saturated lapis lazuli blues of the Virgin's mantle.
Condition Issues
Minor stable hairline craquelure consistent with age on wood panel. Some potential thinning of glazes in the sky area and possible old retouching visible under UV light along the panel joins.
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain strictly controlled humidity (45-55%) to prevent panel warping. Use UV-filtered lighting and non-reflective museum glass if displayed in high-traffic areas. Periodic monitoring for organic substrate movement.