The Virgin and Child Enthroned and Surrounded by Musical Angels

This tempera painting of great quality was made by Blasco de Grañén. Dating from ca. 1450, it formed the central panel of an Aragonese altarpiece and is in the international gothic style. 

The Child Jesus, who holds a bird in his hand, is seated on the Virgin's knees and looks at her. A group of angels on a series of steps surround the throne on which the Virgin Mary is seated and play musical instruments (cittern, recorder, Gothic harp and lute) in her honour. Another two angels hold scrolls with texts from the "Gloria", which appears in the Gospel of Saint Luke, and from Psalm 50.

The refinement, elegance and opulence of the International Gothic style is reflected in the wealth of ornamentation, created through the use of stucco in relief and gilding, in the Virgin's crown, in the angels' halos, in the border and brooch on the mantle worn by Mary, and in the sgraffito decoration of the background.