Castelfranco Madonna

It remains in the equivalent of its original setting, in a side-chapel of the Cathedral of Castelfranco Veneto, Giorgione's native city, in Veneto, northern Italy, although the present church dates to the 18th century. The picture has all the elements of a typical sacra conversazione, with the Madonna enthroned with the child, with St. Francis to the right and St. Nicasius to the left. However, the extreme height of the throne is most unusual and creates a very different effect from the pictures of this type by Giovanni Bellini and other painters, where the throne is only slightly raised and the figures are at roughly the same level. It is one of a handful of paintings - perhaps three - which can be very firmly attributed to Giorgione.

It is recorded as the work of Giorgione. Materials recorded for it are oil paint and poplar panel. It is associated with Italy. The record gives 1503 as its date of establishment or first appearance. It is associated with Venetian school and High Renaissance. Recorded genres are religious art. The recorded subject matter is sacra conversazione. It is recorded in the collection of Dome of Castlefranco Veneto.

• Title — Madonna and Child Between St. Francis and St. Nicasius • Artist — Giorgione • Year — c. 1503/04 • Medium — oil on panel • Height Metric — 200.5 • Width Metric — 144.5 • Museum — Duomo of Castelfranco Veneto • Illustration — The painting in its setting

The altarpiece was commissioned by the condottiero Tuzio Costanzo in memory of his son Matteo, who died of a fever whilst serving the Republic of Venice, in 1499. Also commissioned was a family chapel, containing the tombs of Matteo and Tuzio, built into the walls on either side of the painting. The church was subsequently demolished and replaced with the Cathedral of Castelfranco in 1724. The new building, which remains today, contains a small chapel housing the painting and the tomb of Matteo directly below. The Costanzo coat of arms, three pairs of ribs, can be seen on the tomb on the base of the Virgin's throne. (Some scholars have speculated that St. Nicasius himself is actually a portrait of Matteo.) The work has suffered bad restorations in the past centuries, and was stolen on December 10, 1972. After being recovered, it was accurately restored in 2002-2003 by the Accademia Laboratories in Venice and displayed in the major exhibition Le maraviglie dell'arte, before being returned to its home in Castelfranco in December 2005.

Castelfranco Madonna is recorded as made of oil paint and poplar panel. Associated with Italy. Recorded from 1503.