LOCATION: Aosta, Cathedral, apse nII window)

DIMENSIONS: lancet window composed by 5 panels; h. 385 cms. x w. 85 cms.

PROVENANCE: original location

CHRONOLOGY: end of the XV century (recorded: restoration of the cathedral in 1493)

AUTHOR: local school

PATRONAGE: Giovanni Valperga, Canon of Aosta Cathedral from 1460, then Archdeacon.

SUBJECT: Madonna standing, wrapped in a blue mantle, nursing the naked Child in her arms, a sweet expression in her eyes. Monumentality. The figure is included in a rich Renaissance niche. The coat of arms of the donor’s family stands out in the centre of the first panel, with an angel and an architectonic framing column on each side.

CRITICAL NOTES: The composition and the monumentality can be associated with St. John the Baptist window (see Aosta cattedrale 5) St. Gratus window (see Aosta cattedrale 1) and St. Jocundus window (see Aosta cattedrale 4). Mantle of northern influence. Vivid colours, use of silver stain.

CONDITIONS: As for all the windows in the cathedral, this one as well underwent a through restoration and intervention work during the past. The stained glass window shows some lost panels and breakings especially in the architectonic framing columns, surface corrosion, several repaintings.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Bibl. Cattedrale di Aosta .

PHOTOGRAPHIC REFERENCE: Archivio CVMA Italia – Dono Mons. Garino

EDITOR: Emanuela Linda Cappa, May 2003