Panel

Bicci di Lorenzo (1373-1452)

Italy, Florence

Jacopo del Casentino (act. 1339-1358)

Florence middle panel possibly by Bicci di Lorenzo side panel possibly made by Jacopo del Casentino.

Triptych with Mary, John the Baptist and John the Evangelist 1400-1450 Attribution made by Marijke Hiemstra in 1990 (Di Lorenzo and Del Casentino)

Triptych, middle: Mary with child, John the Baptist (left) and John the Evangelist (Appearance of Mary to John on Patmos?)

Left panel:three female saints with above the angel of the annunciation. Right panel: Christ on the cross with, above, the Annunciation.

In 1990 it was established that this triptych was made by two different Florentine artists. Bicci di Lorenzo probably painted the middle panel, while the side panels are probably by the hand of Jacopo del Casentino. The main depiction of the work shows us Mary with the Christ child on her lap and at her side John the Baptist and John the Evangelist. In a driepas above her head sits God the Father on his throne; the golden edge of this ornament, and also the pillar-shaped and tree-shaped ornamentations are made of stucco, and thus protrude from the painting. The lower part of the left panel shows three female saints, but they cannot be identified by their appearance or their attributes. Their sainthood can be deduced from the fact that each of the three wears a nimbus. The subject of the lower part of the right panel is the crucifixion of Christ. John the Evangelist and Mary are present, in keeping with tradition, while Mary Magdalene is also there. At the top of the cross we see a tiny tree, housing a white bird with a brood of fledglings. This bird is a pelican, by tradition a symbol of Christ. In the Middle Ages, the following story was told about this creature The offspring of the pelican misbehave so badly that their father kills them. Three days later, however, he is sorry. Then he pecks himself in the breast and lets his blood trickle over the dead infants. The chicks come back to life and the pelican dies. Just as the chicks are punished for their bad behaviour, so humanity is punished by God for its bad behaviour. Just as the pelican gave his life for his offspring, so Christ gave his life for humanity. The side wound of Jesus, which is so clearly visible on this panel, even matches the wound that the pelican inflicts on itself. The figures on the upper parts of the left- and the right panel together form one picture. The angel, left, announces the birth of Christ to Mary, who sits on the right.