Introduction: Out of most of the pieces on display in the Renaissance corridor located on the second floor of the museum, Lorenzo Monaco's Madonna and Child caught my eye in such a strange, peculiar manner. This was partially due to my fascination with early renaissance artwork and the artist of that era. It is a medium-sized tempera piece layered on panel placed right of the second room of the corridor. Historically speaking, it was devised between the years of 1370-1371 in Florence, Italy. This was the genesis of the renaissance era which also signaled an end to the medieval era of art. With this passing came renewed interest in the classical Greek philosophical themes and the discovery of humanism. While not the originator of painting, …show more content…
The painting is a full spectrum representation of the beauty of Christ and Mary with a focus on realism. It makes perfect sense seeing as many renaissance painters focused more on those classical themes and the anatomical structures of the human body beginning around this time frame. According to Top 10 Florence and Tuscany, the concept of Madonna and Child as a work of art spans far back to Byzantine era of art, which focused less on the anatomical realism of the Italian renaissance but more in the realms of telling a theological story. Both byzantine and renaissance shared similar themes on this particular work but with different methods of execution. With Lorenzo's version, the painting captures the idealistic, serene pureness of the mother and child while pushing those theological themes onto the viewer. This was done to ensure that the readers saw both figures as nothing less than the embodiment of perfection seeing as the child is the god born son. Also, this plays a part in showcasing the motherly love Mary has for her newborn child. Strong Christian values played heavily into the works color scheme and patterns by strengthening the angelic representation of both figures. According to my earlier notes, Monaco crafted the altarpiece for Monte Oliveto, which was a local monastery that was a frequent patron of Monaco's art. That makes perfect sense, seeing as the main audience of this work would be devoted followers of
From my trip to the art museum the piece which stood out the most to me throughout the entire experience was David Ghirlandaio’s Altarpiece showing the Virgin and Child, with Saints Apollonia and Sebastian. The work of art specifically depicts an example of a sacra conversazione such as the ones we have looked at in class. This piece was made specifically in the 1490’s or the Early Renaissance time period and directly came from Florence, Italy where it was commissioned by the church as an altarpiece. Ghirlandaio specifically used tempera and gold on panel for this painting which he made in his family enterprise. Overall, the painting is roughly five and a half feet in length and height and is an excellent example of the type of works one would expect to see out of the Early Renaissance time frame.
In the early 13th century two paintings came to shape the view of the Christian faith and put their stamp on history by ushering in two different styles of the same idea. Cimabue Enthroned Madonna and Giotto Enthroned Madonna became iconic images that have stood the test of time. At a glance they appear to be same but with a closer look very distinct differences are apparent and unmistakable. The Cimabue Enthroned Madonna and child was painted around 1285 A.D. for the church of Santa Trinita in Florence.
When comparing and contrasting, Cimabue’s Madonna Enthroned with Angels and Prophets and Giotto’s Madonna Enthroned, the main idea of Mary is the same just the subject matter differs. Cimabue’s painting shows angels surrounding the throne. In Giotto’s work, the angels are in a more horizontal-like appearance.. These angels are all visibly showing their distinctive features and emotions. In Cimabue’s work, the throne is on a platform and in Giotto’s painting a roof is just above Madonna. These differences add to the painting. Giotto’s Mary looks attached to the ground, while in Cimabue’s Mary is floating. I also notice that Cimabue’s Mary shows lines to define her clothing. I believe to show Mary’s presence dark and light contrast on her to
Madonna and Child with Angels and Prophets, an alter piece standing some 12 feet and 7 inches tall, was created around 1280-1290 A.D. for the Church of Santa Trinità in Florence, Italy and is now in the Galleria delgi Uffizi Florence. This iconographical piece was constructed through tempera and gold leaf on wood by Cimabue, an Italian painter who brought classical tradition back into art during the 13th century, when Italo-Byzantine style was dominant, paving the way for art in the Renaissance period.
Many ages of art shine through Duccio’s portraying of Mary in Madonna Enthroned (fig. 6). Both being trained in the Greek manner, Duccio’s version of Siena’s patron saint is comparable to Cimabue’s Enthroned Madonna and Child with Angels and Prophets from the year 1280 2 (fig. 7). Duccio, however, took a softer
Through art, man started to change their view on themselves. Paintings during The Middle Ages focused a lot on God and religious views, but not a lot on man itself. During The Renaissance, however, paintings shifted to being much more realistic with humanistic features. Berlinghiero’s Madonna and Child from 1228 shows a woman holding a small child (Doc. A). There are a few facial and body features added such as on the nose and the hands. It shows Mary holding her child, showing that he is “the way to salvation” (Doc. A).
“From prostitute to sibyl to mystic to celibate nun to passive helpmeet to feminist icon to the matriarch of divinity’s secret dynasty.” (James Carroll “Who is Mary Magdalene”) What we know for sure is that Mary Magdalene was a former sinner that became a leading figure in Jesus’ followers. She stayed by Jesus’ side, to the end, she visited him at his tomb, and was the first person that Jesus “appeared after his resurrection and the first to preach the “Good News” of that miracle.” During the time period of this painting Mary Magdalene, a sinner and prostitute, illustrated “the very essence of spiritual conversion.” (Ebert-Schifferer 63) It’s no stretch to say that the painting is meant to show the moment at which Mary changes her ways, and becomes “married to the word of god”. The conversion of Mary was a new concept to Rome, The book “Caravaggio: The Artist and His Work” claims that this painting is the first to depict it.
Stylistic concern is not the only argument that objects the painting’s attribution to Raphael, but also the inferior quality in the rendition of Mary and Christ. Observations of Beck suggest that Mary’s hair looks confusing and unsolved , while the underdrawing revealed by IR investigation shows a clearer representation of the braids that possibly the painter-in-question became more “exclusive on this own during the painting stage that he dropped the refinement of her hair” stemming from mimicking Raphael’s painting when drafting. Furthermore, the current depiction conveys a sense of obfuscation in posing of Mary’s right thigh compared to Small Cowper Madonna (fig. 2) or the Bridgewater Madonna (fig.4), with statically drawn Infant balancing difficultly on the invisible leg of Mary . It is inexplicable that the engravings (fig. 6 and 7) after the painting look more convincing that they have complemented the unnaturalness of the original.
This paper will compare the themes found in the paintings "Madonna and Child with St. John the Baptist and an Angel" by Domenico di Bartolomeo Ubaldini (Puligo) and "Madonna Enthroned" by Giotto. Both paintings deal with fables from the Christian faith but were executed during different periods in art. The Giotto painting was created around 1310 and the Puglio painting was executed between 1518 1520. Here, these two paintings have similar themes both at the extreme beginnings and endings of the Italian Renaissance, and as such they serve to present an exceptional example of the developments in art that occurred within that time. This paper shall compare
Also the crisp outlines of the jewel-colored shapes created by their clothing as well as the continuity of folds and gestures, creates a rhythmic pattern crisscrossing the surface showing the element of design (Stubblebine). The imagery in Madonna and Child is displayed in how the artist expresses himself, and how the artwork communicates with the viewer. The artist expresses himself in that the work is symbolic. It is symbolic in that it depicts the sacred realm and the account of Mary and the Child it also emphasized the thirteenth century devotional practice on experiencing the sacred figures as real (Stokstad 259). In addition, the work was created within a structured stylistic context of devotional images and icons, and was not created as a personal expression. The Madonna and Child painting communicates with the viewer, in that the sense of human interaction convinces the viewer that the two figures exist in real space and time (Tomkins 3) and the intimate interaction between the Child and the Madonna evokes a human response from the viewer. Duccio explored the world of sentiment and empathetic emotional response with a lyricism and sensitivity to color. Some examples of this is the tender gesture of the Child, the distant glaze of the Virgin, yet deeply moving expression, the use of drapery folds to describe the forms of the
Throughout history, people have used paintings and art as a tool to express their religious beliefs and values. Illustrations depicting the Virgin Mary and child, often referred to as Madonna and Child, are one of the most recurring images in Christian and European Art through the ages. Though these paintings and sculptures may have similarities in their iconography and style each work of art varies based on the different artists’ and time periods. Two paintings that portray these features currently reside in the Museum of Fine Arts Houston. The first, Virgin and Child by Rogier van der Wyden, was originally painted after 1454. In the painting, the Virgin Mary is holding Christ against her shoulder as he twists around to face toward the viewers. The second painting is Virgin and Child with a Donor, painted by Antoniazzo Romano and originally painted c. 1480. In this painting, Virgin Mary is supporting Christ who seems to be standing and includes a figure of a man with his hands crossed in prayer. While both paintings depict the mother and child, there are both similarities and differences in style and portrayal. In this paper, I will thoroughly examine these traits, as well as address the similarities and differences associated with the two paintings. This analysis will be done by using information gained from reading Gardner’s Art Through the Ages, in class lectures from ARTH 1381 Art and Society Renaissance to Modern and ARTH 1300 Ways of Seeing Art, and close visual
This paper will compare the themes found in the paintings “Madonna and Child with St. John the Baptist and an Angel” by Domenico di Bartolomeo Ubaldini (Puligo) and “Madonna Enthroned” by Giotto. Both paintings deal with fables from the Christian faith but were executed during different periods in art. The Giotto painting was created around 1310 and the Puglio painting was executed between 1518 – 1520. Here, these two paintings have similar themes both at the extreme beginnings and endings of the Italian Renaissance, and as such they serve to present an exceptional example of the developments in art that occurred within that time. This paper shall compare
The Lucca Madonna portrays Virgin Mary sitting on a throne feeding baby Jesus. Van Eyck's use of color truly draws the viewer to the painting. As soon as one sees the painting they as on looks upon the painting they are guided towards Mary and Jesus' bright skin then is soon drawn to the beautiful scarlet dress Mary is wearing. There seems to be little negative space in the paintings. The throne of which Mary sits on does not belong in the room. The only other items located in the room is the fruit on the window seal and the trinkets on the shelf.
Portraits of the Madonna and Child depicting Mary holding the infant Christ provide a recurrent image in art throughout the ages. In prevalent portrayals over the span of centuries, artists reflect a wide diversity in their representations of the iconic duo. In particular, two works found in the National Gallery of Ireland in the early Italian Renaissance gallery, The Virgin and Child, Saint John the Baptist and Prophets by an unknown artist (1325-1450) and The Virgin and Child by Paolo Uccello (1435-1440), highlight the transition between Byzantine and early Renaissance paintings of the Madonna and Child, particularly in relation to subject matter, composition, material, style and meaning. Although each of these paintings of the Madonna and Child depicts the same Christian iconography of Mary and Jesus, their differences in composition and style influence their meaning, with each painting reflecting the individual artist who painted it and the different time period during which it was created.
This period housed many depictions of the Virgin Mary, including Cimabue’s Enthroned Madonna and Child. Mary was seen as the perfect example of feminine virtue, showing chastity, piety, humility, and maternity. Images of the Madonna, or Mary, whether sculpture or painting, encouraged women to live up to her. Mary wasn’t the only woman that was looked up to in Renaissance art. Women could be portrayed as witches, saints, temptresses, or members of the working class, and their image would still be an encouragement to dress and behave properly. (Jacobs)