Antonello da Messina: Saint John The Evangelist & Madonna and Child Enthroned and Two Angels
Antonello da Messina
Saint John The Evangelist
1470 circa
Oil on panel
It was a joy to discover these two paintings by Antonello da Messina today in the Uffizi. They are presumed to be two parts of a triptych or polyptych altarpiece. I was initially struck with the beauty and simplicity of the paintings, and then was pleasantly surprised by an intriguing detail held in John The Evangelist's left hand: a chalice emitting a dragon spirit - a quetzalcoatl winged serpent in fact.
The faces of the people figured have a lovely presence which is painted in a manner neither too simple nor too complex. In the sea of paintings which is the Uffizi, these stand out as especially satisfying.
Antonello da Messina
Madonna and Child Enthroned and Two Angels
1470 circa
Oil on panel