Madonna and Child

Although Gherardo Starnina is regarded as one of the most important painters of his time in Florence, little is known about him. He probably studied with a well-regarded Florentine painter who made numerous frescoes. He is claimed to have participated in the painting of the frescoes in the Castellani Chapel in Santa Croce, Florence. Documents show that he worked extensively in Spain, specifically Toledo and Valencia, executing many panel paintings and frescoes there. Most of his known paintings are altarpieces, often illustrating scenes from the lives of the saints. Stylistically, Starnina drew from many sources, including the Late Gothic style he witnessed while in Spain, and he developed a uniquely independent, progressive manner. The lyrical grace of this Madonna and her Valencian-style crown owe much to his experience in Spain.