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Vittore Carpaccio (c. 1465-1525)
Venice, 1505
Tempera and oil (?) on wood
90.1 x 133.9 cm
Inv. no. 208
This work, whose central theme is the Adoration of the Child, is considered to be one of the artist’s most outstanding pieces and dates from 1505. The date appears in the cartellino on the panel’s base, which bears the inscription VICTOR CARPATHIVS/MDV.
The donors, evidently important figures in Venetian society, are depicted in realistic form and on the same scale as the holy figures. This equal status in the scene bears witness to an artistic practice that spread from the start of the fifteenth century, clearly reflecting the impact of humanist values on art. Thus, the Child, here shown without his divine attributes, adopts an earthly appearance in the centre of the scene.
Carpaccio creates the scene by using a series of narrative planes with rich, luminous colours that develop the depth of the setting. This includes minutely observed details such as the mobility of the scene involving horsemen, which add the artist’s known inventive creativity to the entire scene. The calm, almost lyrical, atmosphere emphasises the harmony of the world portrayed.
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