Madonna and Child with Saints Anthony Abbot, Margaret, Stephen and Catherine of Alexandria (Tabernacle of the Mercatale)

We stand before a precious tabernacle, one of the most famous artworks of Filippino Lippi. It is important not only because of the beauty and harmony of the painted subjects, but also because it bears witness to a passage in the city's history. Dating back to 1498, the frescoed tabernacle was located on the "Canto", or corner of Piazza Mercatale, and was destroyed during the March 1944 bombings. It was only thanks to the patience and care of another Prato citizen, the famous restorer Leonetto Tintori, that it could be rebuilt piece by piece and restored so that we can admire it even today.
The stage space in this detached fresco is divided into three panels. The Madonna and Child occupy the centre of the artwork, crowned by a host of seraphim gently leaning against the clouds. The sky is coloured by the sunset tones and brightens in the lower part, creating a harmonious light that animates the artwork together in harmony with the softness of the faces. Behind the Virgin there is an altar with classical forms from which books protrude. 
On the left are the saints Anthony Abbot and Margaret, and on the right are the saints Stephen and Catherine of Alexandria, standing in front of a parapet that unifies the scene. The four are depicted in a devotional attitude. 
It is evident from the fine decoration on the altar, as well as the abundance of ornaments in the vault, that Filippino had developed a restless taste for antiquity during his stay in Rome in 1488. With the modulation of sacred figures and ancient details, the painter has produced a sublime composition that adheres to one of the founding principles of the Renaissance. This work reconciles the ancient flavour with Christian values. This is evidenced by the motto of the historical philosopher Epictetus, “substine ET abstine” (“bear and abstain”), which is read on the scroll among the books resting on the altar. At the base of the central group, supported by two Tritons, is the coat of arms of the Tieri, an important Prato family that owns a house near the tabernacle. The presence of Saint Anthony Abbot in a position of honour would suggest that the patron of the artwork may perhaps be Antonio Tieri.