''Madonna of the Swallow'' (Italian - ''Madonna della rondine'') is a painting by
Carlo Crivelli. It is named after the swallow perched on the top left hand corner of the Madonna's throne - the bird was a symbol of the Resurrection. It was commissioned by Ranuzio Ottoni and Giorgio di Giacomo for the
church of San Francesco in
Matelica in March 1490 - Ottoni was Lord of Matelica and Giacomo was guardian of the local Franciscan monastery. It was completed between 1490 and 1492. It is now in the
National Gallery, London
The National Gallery is an art museum in Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster, in Central London, England. Founded in 1824, it houses a collection of over 2,300 paintings dating from the mid-13th century to 1900. The current Director o ...
, who bought it in 1862.
The central panel shows the
Madonna and Child in a granite,
porphyry and marble throne, with
Jerome to their left and
saint Sebastian to their right. At the base is the Ottoni coat of arms and the signature ''CAROLVS CRIVELLVS VENETVS MILES PINXIT''. The
predella survives and shows (from left to right)
Catherine of Alexandria, Jerome, the Nativity, the Martyrdom of St Sebastian and St George slaying the Dragon.
File:Carlo crivelli, madonna della rondine, post 1490, da s. francesco a matelica, predella 01 caterina d'alessandria.jpg,
File:Carlo crivelli, madonna della rondine, post 1490, da s. francesco a matelica, predella 02 girolamo nel deserto.jpg,
File:Carlo crivelli, madonna della rondine, post 1490, da s. francesco a matelica, predella 06 adorazione del bambino 1.jpg,
File:Carlo crivelli, madonna della rondine, post 1490, da s. francesco a matelica, predella 07 martirio di san sebastiano 1.jpg,
File:Carlo crivelli, madonna della rondine, post 1490, da s. francesco a matelica, predella 08 san giorgio e il drago 1.jpg,
References
Sources (in French)
* ''Dictionnaire des sujets et des symboles dans l'Art'', James Hall (1918-2007)
Notice et photographie non recadrée
{{DEFAULTSORT:Madonna of the Swallow
1490s paintings
Paintings by Carlo Crivelli
Paintings of Jerome
Paintings of Saint Sebastian
Paintings of Catherine of Alexandria
Paintings in the National Gallery, London
Paintings of the Madonna and Child
Paintings of Saint George (martyr)
Horses in art
Paintings of dragons
Matelica