netian elements in his paintings.
The Coronation of the Virgin was originally created for a monastery in Guariento's hometown of Padua. The panels of the altarpiece were painted with tempera and its borders were gilded with gold leaf. The Coronation of the Virgin is a rather large work, standing more than seven feet tall and more than eight feet wide. It is described as a "polyptych," a term which denotes a hinged altarpiece consisting of at least four panels. As an altarpiece, the function or purpose of the work was primarily religious. This fact helps to explain the overall thematic ideas which are found in the work. In particular, Guariento's altarpiece is designed as an homage to the Virgin Mary. The central image of the work is that of Christ placing a crown on the Virgin's head. The side and top panels supplement this image with various narrative scenes from the Bible which relate to the lives of both Christ and the Virgin. It may be noted that homages to the Virgin were a vital aspect in Gothic art. During the period in which Guariento lived, the Virgin Mary had come to play an important role in both the Church and in secular life. The Virgin was honored by the people of the time because she was seen as representing "in her own person the beauty, grace, and courtesy which people were craving for" (Payne, 1972, p. 206). In art, the Virgin was often depicted as the Queen of Heaven and Earth. As noted by Robert Payne: "Quite suddenly she had become the divine Empress of all the uni
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