Madonna and Child

Since 1296 Arnolfo served as Capomaestro of the construction of the Cathedral in Florence. One of his duties was to supervise the sculpture programme. The Madonna and Child was made for the lunette over the central portal of the Cathedral. The Madonna's massive body and the crisp folds of Classicizing drapery relate to Roman models.The work's blocky planes and austere monumentality as well as the the slight tender smile constitute Arnolfo's original style.