Madonna of Humility with Adoring Angels
- Artist: Circle ofAgnolo Gaddi (Artists)died 1396
- Date: (circa) 1390
- Medium: tempera on panel
- Museum: The Courtauld Gallery
- Collection record: The Courtauld Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is the Madonna of Humility with Adoring Angels, created by the circle of Agnolo Gaddi around 1390. The work is a tempera on panel, a medium that gives the image a luminous, almost translucent quality. The central figure is the Virgin, seated low on a modest throne, hands folded in a gesture of prayer. Her face is serene, eyes slightly turned toward the viewer, evoking a sense of intimate devotion. A small cluster of angels surrounds her, each bowing respectfully, their halos softly glowing.
The composition keeps the focus on the Virgin’s humility; the panel is not crowded with extraneous details, allowing the viewer to feel the quiet reverence of the scene. The color palette is subdued, with gentle blues, soft ochres, and a warm, golden background that lifts the figures. The artist’s circle worked in the early 14th‑century Tuscan tradition, and you can see the influence of earlier Florentine painters in the careful rendering of drapery and the delicate balance of light.
Because the work was made with tempera, the paint layers are thin and precise, giving the faces and hands a slightly sharp quality that contrasts with the soft, almost cloud‑like rendering of the angels. The overall effect is one of restrained beauty and a tender, almost almost spiritual, invitation to contemplate the divine humility that the painting embodies.
See it in person
Madonna of Humility with Adoring Angels hangs in The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House, London. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
