Virgin of the Angels

Pere Serra's Virgin of the Angels is one of the masterpieces of Catalan Gothic painting, now housed in the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya in Barcelona. Pere, the younger brother of Jaume Serra, was the leading painter in late fourteenth-century Catalonia, creating altarpieces that combined Italianate influences — particularly from Siena — with the vibrant chromatic tradition of Catalan art. The subject of the Virgin surrounded by music-making angels was especially beloved in the Crown of Aragon, reflecting the region's rich tradition of Marian devotion.

This sumptuous tempera on gold-ground panel features Pere Serra's brilliant color harmonies, with deep blues, rich reds, and luminous golds creating a celestial atmosphere. The musical angels surrounding the Virgin display the flowing draperies and graceful poses that mark Pere Serra's assimilation of the International Gothic style.