The Life of Christ
Historical Context
Franceschino Zavattari was a member of the Zavattari family, the leading dynasty of painters in fifteenth-century Milan, known primarily for their extensive fresco cycle in the Cathedral of Monza depicting the Life of Queen Theodolinda. This panel of the Life of Christ from around 1400 demonstrates the International Gothic style in Lombardy, with its characteristic decorative richness and courtly elegance.
Technical Analysis
The tempera on wood with gold ground combines narrative painting with ornamental gold decoration in the International Gothic manner. The precisely detailed scenes and rich surface treatment demonstrate the Zavattari workshop's specialization in decorative narrative cycles.
