# Founding of Santa Maria Maggiore [View the canonical artwork record]() ## Artwork - Artist: [MASOLINO da Panicale]() - Date: 1401-1450 - Technique: Tempera and gold on panel, 144 x 76 cm ## Commentary Masolino was called to Rome, perhaps on more than one occasion. There he produced a major altarpiece for the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, one of the ancient basilicas of the city. The central panel depicts the foundation of the church on the 5th of August when after a miraculous snowfall, the pope traced its ground plan in the snow. Masolino produced a memorable scene, with Mary and Christ in a circular halo supervising the event. ## Related artworks - [Annunciation to Zacharias \(detail\)]() - [Conversion and Beheading of Empress Faustina]() - [Crucifixion \(altar wall\)]() - [Crucifixion \(altar wall\)]() - [Feast of Herod \(detail\)]() - [Feast of Herod \(detail\)]() - [Frescoes in the Cappella Brancacci \(right view\)]() - [God the Father Surrounded by Angels \(detail\)]() - [Healing of the Cripple and Raising of Tabatha \(left view\)]() - [Healing of the Cripple and Raising of Tabatha \(right view\)]() - [Healing of the Cripple \(detail\)]() - [Landscape with Mountains]() ## Attribution [Web Gallery of Art]()