Madonna and Child

This small panel is also known as the Stroganoff Madonna and as the Stoclet Madonna. It was acquired by the Metropolitan Museum in 2004 for an undisclosed sum. There are reports that it cost more than US$ 45 million.

Stoclet and Stroganoff refer to the former owners. The Russian count Stroganoff is the first owner on record. After his death in 1910 the panel was acquired by the Belgian entrepreneur Adolphe Stoclet. His heirs sold it in 2004.

The panel is one of Duccio's innovative paintings. Until then, Mary and child were mostly depicted in Byzantine style, divine and without any emotion. Duccio very much showed the human relation between mother and child.

Note the parapet in the bottom, a trick to create more depth.