The Madonna and Child with Angels (The Quaratesi Madonna)

The characteristically elegant Virgin is seated with the infant Christ upon her lap. He leans out from his Mother's arms, clutching a daisy in his left hand. Six attendant angels peer around the Cloth of Honour draped behind the Virgin, in which Gentile da Fabriano has skilfully imitated the most sumptuous metal-thread cloth of his day. To create this impression, a red translucent glaze was painted over silver leaf (now tarnished), which would have made the cloth appear reflective. This red layer was engraved with a stylus to uncover the silver beneath. An elaborate silver pattern of tendrils and foliage was created (now dulled), which connected the gold leaf motifs – the latter still clearly seen today.

This panel formed the centre of an altarpiece commissioned by a member of the Quaratesi family for the High Altar of the Church of San Niccoló Oltrarno in Florence. It was flanked by Saints Mary Magdalene, Nicholas of Bari, John the Baptist and George (Uffizi, Florence). It also featured a predella beneath, depicting the life of Saint Nicholas.