Madonna and Child Enthroned with Scenes from the Life of the Virgin

An important example of late Gothic painting in Abruzzo, the triptych depicts the Madonna and Child enthroned at the centre, while the side panels show episodes from the life of the Virgin, drawn from various apocryphal texts. The panels display vibrant chromatic richness and an extensive use of gold leaf in the background. Hypothetically identified with the painter Leonardo di Sabino from Teramo, the Master of the Beffi Triptych produced mural and panel paintings, illuminated manuscripts, and painted decorations for wooden sculptures.
In the left panel, in descending order from the uppermost to the lowermost section, the scenes of the Annunciation to the Shepherds; the Adoration of the Christ Child by the Shepherds; and the midwives bathing the Infant Jesus are illustrated. Meanwhile, on the right‑hand side from the bottom, episodes from the Dormitio Virginis are represented: the Death of the Virgin, Jesus supports the Virgin’s soul, and, subsequently, her Coronation.