Forever Stamps 2016 Florentine Madonna and Child – Art Collection, First-Class Postage

During the 15th century, Florence, Italy, thrived as the hub of the Italian Renaissance. The city, influenced by the Roman Catholic Church, attracted numerous artists. Religious themes, especially the Madonna and Child, dominated artworks in churches and museums. Florentine artists, each with a distinct technique, commonly embraced naturalism or realism, aiming for detailed, precise, and lifelike representations.

The prevalent medium for 15th-century painters was egg tempera on wooden panels. Artists mixed powdered pigments with egg yolk, occasionally adding white wine or vinegar. Egg tempera’s strong odor, even after drying, led some artists to incorporate myrrh for a more pleasant scent.

Creating egg tempera demanded skill, and its durability allowed some masterpieces to endure, offering a firsthand look at Renaissance art’s evolution.