Description
The Maestà of Santa Maria dei Servi depicts the Virgin seated on a monumental throne with the Christ Child, accompanied by two angels appearing behind the structure. The composition belongs fully to the tradition of large Marian images of the thirteenth century, while at the same time displaying characteristics that differ from other Maestà paintings associated with Cimabue. These differences have contributed to the long-standing debate over its attribution.
Mary dominates the panel vertically and occupies almost the entire available surface. Her body is presented frontally, although the slight inclination of the head softens the strict rigidity of the traditional type. Her broad dark mantle falls in long and flexible folds, reinforcing the monumental character of the figure. Cimabue's authorship and the possible participation of his workshop have been discussed; uncertainty does not allow every stylistic difference to be attributed to another hand.
