Visual Analysis #2

Art 101

12/2/2020

Title: Coronation of The Virgin By: Diego Velazquez

Dimensions 5′ 9″ x 4′ 1″

[Link]

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The Coronation of the Virgin Mary is an oil painting that is characteristic of Baroque Art. It was

painted in the 1600’s by Diego Velazquez. This is a scene of the crowing of the Virgin Mary that

appears to be in the setting of Heaven, with the Holy Trinity, and adoring angels. The human

images, as painted, are detailed and realistic, which makes for an emotionally charging viewing

experience. It is easy to be drawn into the painting. The realism of the setting, the human and

angelic figures, the cloudy heaven background, the expressions on the faces, dramatic, all align

with baroque art.

This painting epitomizes what many would imagine Heaven to look like with soft pastel shades

in an infinite sky, fluffy, white clouds. Velazquez’s intentional use of vibrant colors on the

garments of the human figures of the Father, the Son, and Mary are captivating. The Virgin Mary

is pictured in the center of the painting and surrounded by the Father, the Son, and the Holy

Spirit as if protected, and loved. Framed below her is the soft and gentle site of cherub figures,

human baby faces with angel wings.

What is remarkable is how the artist situated each figure in the painting, the Father on one side of

the Virgin, the Son, on the other side and the Dove, a symbol of the Holy Spirit, is centered and

above them. The artist used shades of white that appears as light around the dove, as its holiness,

which draws attention to anyone viewing the painting. This loving moment honors the Virgin

Mary as she is being crowned as the Queen of Heaven, and in accordance with the Roman

Catholic religion.

The artist captured significant details of the Virgin Mary. The features of Mary are that of a

young woman, with longer dark brown hair with a center part, very feminine facial features, very
natural, yet with a bit of color in the cheeks of her face. In the painting, Mary’s eyes are looking

down with a serious, wearing a serious yet peaceful expression, with smooth and clear skin, and

the fingers of one hand resting upon her heart. There is a lace veil around her head which aligns

with the clothing worn by women during this time in history. The artist used a white paint to

create what looks to be a ray of light and holiness glowing over the Virgin’s head from the dove,

as if she is surrounded by love of the Holy Trinity and blessings.

This is a masterpiece of a painting with a simplistic, yet tasteful use of a few colors, such as

shades of, reds, blue, brown, black, and white. There is a combination of pale and vibrant colors

that works as a contrast which is also characteristic of Baroque artistry. The artist captured the

details on the face of the Father. He is painted as an older man with a white hanging beard, (so

realistically painted that one can almost feel the texture), with a receding hairline, and wearing a

darker red robe with a lighter red shawl type garment draped over the shoulders. The Father is

holding one side of a colorful, yet simple, floral crown that is situated over the Virgin Mary’s

head before the actual crowing. Holding the other side of the crown, is a younger man, the Son.

He is painted with long brown hair, also wearing a red robe, and holding the other side of the

crown over the Virgin Mary’s head. This is Jesus, the son of Mary. Above them is a dove with a

glistening appearance that would encapsulates the ever presence of Holiness as the Holy Spirit.

The artist painted in a way that a viewer can “see” the story being told in the painting. The

humanistic portrayal of the Father, Son, and Mary in such a spiritual setting and moment is

remarkable and engaging as is how the artist visualized the Holy Trinity and the relationship

with Mary. In this picture, Jesus is about to crown his own mother along with His Father and the

light and glow of the Holy Spirit.

look heart-shaped, with the Father on one side, the Son on the other, with the Virgin Mary in the

center, and adorned by angels, with young, sweet faces in the clouds. That configuration is

seemingly intentional and part of the story that the painting tells, with the symbolism of a heart

meaning love and with Mary’s fingers resting on her heart as well. The coronation of Mary is a

holy event. The robes worn by the father and the son are in a vibrant shade of red, which is a

somewhat dramatic use of color. These things are in keeping with Baroque art.

The Baroque style, as painted by Velazquez, is also reflected in the artistry of Peter Paul Rubens,

in his painting, “Raising of the Cross, painted in the year 1610. This is yet another painting that

captures an emotional scene of Jesus nailed to the cross, with angels and other surrounding him.

In keeping with Baroque artistry, this painting is realistic and very emotionally-charging due to

the scene, the story it tells, the use of color that captures the human-ness of skin tones and body

frames of men and women and the body of Christ suffering on the cross. There are also angels in

this painting. Both paintings are reflective of Baroque artistry- story telling, emotionally and

psychologically charging due to the story the painting tells, the details of the human-ness and

realness of the scene, the human figures, the spirituality in both, the use of colors, pale for skin,

brighter for certain garments or other eye-capturing figure, both painters draw the viewer into the

scene of their paintings.