preview

The Madonna Or Virgin Mary

Decent Essays

The Madonna or Virgin Mary was a popular theme for many Middle Age and Renaissance period artists. I will be writing with a view of exploring the following pieces. The first is Madonna Enthroned with Angels and Prophets. [Fig 1] This work was by a prominent artist named Cimabue, or Cenni di Pepo, and was created in Florence, Italy. It is believed to have been done in the Middle Ages from 1280-1290 A.D. and the medium is tempura on wood. At dimensions of 12’7” X 7’4” it is quite large and is currently on display in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy. As is implied by its title, the subject matter of this piece is the Virgin Mary and Christ. The second work is The Madonna of the Pinks [Fig 2] by Raphael. Raphael was also a prominent artist of his time, and has often been compared to Leonardo and Michelangelo. This work of oil paint on yew, or fruitwood, was created during the High Renaissance circa 1506-7 A.D. Also created in Florence, Italy, it is a small work, measuring just 27.9 cm X 22.4cm, currently housed as The National Gallery in London. The subject matter of this piece is also that of the Virgin Mary and Christ. Both of these works are excellent examples of why their artists are considered among the greatest of their respective time periods.
Madonna Enthroned with Angels and Prophets is a Byzantine style and reflects this in its highly stylized form of depicting the characters. The figure of The Madonna especially holds to this style in its elongated,

Get Access