Comparison Assignment Madonna of the Meadow Madonna Enthroned
COMPARISON ASSIGNMENT: MADONNA OF THE MEADOW & MADONNA ENTHRONEDThe following paper is a comparison of Raphael's Madonna of the Meadow and Cimabue's Madonna Enthroned. Madonna of the Meadow was painted by Raffaello Sanzio, otherwise known as Raphael, in 1505. This time period is known as the Italian Renaissance. The painting was oil on panel and stood 3 ft 8.5 in X 2 ft 10.25 in. It is now in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, Italy (Adams, 567). Madonna of the Meadow is of a classical nature, which is very common of the time period. A good example of this would be the nude characters used in the art. The medium used (oil) was also being used very widely in Italy by this time. It allowed the painter to make very realistic shades and colors. The figures and landscape in the painting also looked very fluid and real due to the use of the oil paint. The iconography of the painting lies in the history of its famous characters. The three figures come from the Bible; however, the artist has taken some liberties. The picture contains the Virgin Mary, the baby Jesus and his second cousin St. John the Baptist. The picture foreshadows the death of Christ on the cross. This point is displayed in the action of the
Their faces do, however, look calm and restrained, but the positioning of the bodies and expressions are not fluid and natural. The colors and tones are very natural and soothing, much like the brushwork of the painting as well. One aspect of the painting that is quite interesting is the use of the throne. However, in this painting we also have angels and four older men at the bottom of the throne holding scrolls. The positioning and placement of the three biblical characters are said to be in a Leonardesque-type pyramid (Hartt, 470). It is, however, very typical of the Byzantine style as is the gold background and thin figures (Adams, 450). The painting is, however, very balanced in the placement of the angels and the prophets around the Virgin and Christ. Raphael favored this style and positioning from Leonardo DiVinchi. The flowers are very prevalent and are connected to the figures in the painting by having the same color that is in the Virgin's shirt. The poses of the three are very calm, relaxed and subdued. The colors are not as natural and realistic in that Cimabue used distinctive golds all through the painting. In comparison, Madonna Enthroned has many differences although it contains two of the same characters. The best description of the painting comes from our textbook Art Across Time stating that, "Raphael's style is calm, harmonious, and restrained". This painting is among a series that has been called Madonna of the Lands because the Florentine countryside in the background is said to be under the protection of the Virgin, the Child and the infant Baptist.
Common topics in this essay:
Madonna Meadow,
Leonardo DiVinchi,
Byzantine Influence,
Virgin Mary,
St John,
Madonna Enthroned,
Virgin Christ,
Italian Renaissance,
John Baptist,
Baptist Mary,
madonna meadow,
madonna enthroned,
virgin mary,
virgin mary baby,
baby jesus,
st john,
john baptist,
mary baby,
raphael's painting,
mary baby jesus,
hartt 470,
figures painting,
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Acceptance Essays
