Enthroned Madonna between the Saints Rose and Catherine of Alexandria and two angels – Musée du Louvre – Paris
The painting had been considered a masterpiece by Perugino for a long time, however it was probably executed together with a collaborator (maybe Andrea d’Assisi called l’Ingegno), part of his workshop.
At the center of the scene the Virgin and Child are sitting on a throne raised on a richly decorated base with projecting edges; on the sides, slightly back from mother and son, two figures of saints, identifiable as Santa Rosa (on the left) and Saint Catherine (on the right) attend the scene.
The composition is framed on the background by a low rectangular parapet, whose perspective is highlighted by the checkered floor; two symmetrical angels stand on the parapet, praying.
The light shapes the figures, according to the ideal of calm harmony typical of the Medici court of the time; the rich drapery of the garments also contributes to create a sense of composed monumentality.
A countryside landscape is in the background, where the hills fade in the distance.
The work, datable to 1490/1492, was part of the collection of the King of Holland William II, from which it was purchased in August 1850 by the Musée du Louvre. The painting is preserved at the Musée du Louvre, in Paris.
