Running head: MADONNA AND CHILD 1
Madonna and Child
Student’s Name
Institution Affiliation
Date
MADONNA AND CHILD 2
Madonna and Child
Portrait
MADONNA AND CHILD 3
Introduction
Renaissance Architecture and Art are allied arts, such as architecture,
sculpture, and paintings. These works were developed in Europe during the
renaissance historical era (Gombrich, 1951). This era was between the 14th century
and 16th centuries. However, many historians differ with their specific dates. Besides,
the renaissance is regarded as a French interpretation of the Italian renascent. The
primary aspects of the Renaissance styles consist of the traditional forms
revitalization that was brought up in the ancient "Rome and Greece" and the
interpretation of the global life (Gombrich, 1951). The resurgence also outlines the
curiosity and proclamation of humanism on the benefit of individuals. The period of
renaissance marked the beginning of the western exploration and discovery era
(Gombrich, 1951). It was the time where the desire to evaluate the world and nature
erupted. This essay will discuss the paint 'Madonna and Child with Saints Jerome,
Bernardino, John the Baptist, and Anthony of Padua and Two Angels.' However,
Sano di Pietro's portrait of Madonna and Child with Saints is a perfect example of an
Italian Renaissance portraiture in that it represents the cultural and religious values of
Christianity.
Description
Sano di Pietro is regarded as one of the most prolific and popular Siense
painters during the renaissance era. His studio created various devotional Madona and
Child images (The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2020). These portraits were usually
accompanied by images of angels and saints and wee outlined in bust-length. In my
particular portrait, the painting has eight individuals in total. To start with, the Child
Christ was painted holding a goldfinch that symbolized his resurrections (The
Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2020). Besides, he is resting his hand on his mother's
MADONNA AND CHILD 4
neckline (Virgin Mary). The portrait also has the heads of two angels, Saints Padua,
Bernardino, and John the Baptist. The history of this painting outlines that individuals
have been applying art as a way of reviewing their culture and religious beliefs.
The portrait of Madonna and Child is regarded as one of the essential
recurring paintings in the history of European and Christianity arts. Besides, Madonna
is a representation of the Virgin Mary, the Child in the picture is Jesus Chris with
regards to Christianity (The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2020). The style of art
applied in this portrait contains a different technique though it is still similar to the
Christian iconography depiction. It also outlines the various eras since varied
paintings were created on Madonna and Child. Cosimo Rosselli, Duccio, and
Berlinghiero were some of the artists who created Madonna and Child (The
Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2020). After viewing this portrait, I can determine the
progress that has taken place in the world of painting. Lastly, this painting was
brought up or created to outline the similarities and differences between the cultural
and religious values of different people (The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2020). The
reason is that it symbolizes the beliefs of Christians on baby Jesus and the Virgin
Mary.
Analysis
Painting Style
Madonna and Child with Saints is a tempera on wood painting. Tempera
painting is a type of painting carried out with pigment ground (Gombrich, 1951).
Besides, it is created in a medium that is water-miscible. The reason for this
identification is that Italian artists primarily applied tempera painting before the 15th
century that marked the beginning of oil paintings (Gombrich, 1951). Pietro being an
Italian, I presume he went for the same technique because it was readily available, and
MADONNA AND CHILD 5
he had enough knowledge-making paints using tempering to come up with the desired
consistency.
This portrait contains colored pigment and has been long-lasting, justifying
that my selected portrait is a tempera painting. Moreover, the tempera technique was
used to make a uniform gold color in our image (The Metropolitan Museum of Art,
2020). The artist has used a thin and semi-opaque layer to make the portrait of
Madonna and Child with Saints (Gombrich, 1951). From the observation, this
painting has a smooth matte finish that may have enabled the painter to apply various
small brush strokes used in a technique of cross-hatching (The Metropolitan Museum
of Art, 2020). Thus, this painting proves to be an excellent example of a tempera
painting.
Image Interpretations
The inclusion of Madonna, the Child, two Angles, Anthony of Padua, and
John the Baptist have various symbolism in the portrait. Madonna's image symbolized
life. She was depicted in this painting as Virgin Mary carrying the baby Jesus.
However, Pietro used her image and color to symbolize immortality, chastity, youth,
innocence, everlasting life, royalty, love, virginity, and purity to propel Christianity.
Conceptually, the inclusion of Saint Anthony of Padua was also essential in
outlining the Christianity theme in this portrait. He was appreciated by his expert
information on scripture, powerful preaching, his undying devotion, and love to the
sick and poor (The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2020). His presence in this painting
outlines how Christians should carry out themselves. John the Baptist image
symbolized baptism that most Christians practice. Being the forerunner of Jesus, his
presence was also important in outlining the life of Christians. Lastly, the Child and
two angels symbolized holiness and the beginning of Christianity in the world.
MADONNA AND CHILD 6
Painting's Background
One can view a gold color. Gold does symbolize heaven on medieval
paintings (Gombrich, 1951). All these eight individuals were put against a gold
background to represent their proximity to heaven and God. Prieto scratched off a
layer of paint used to draw the images over the gold to come up with the observed
fabric of gold brocade on the background of the paint (The Metropolitan Museum of
Art, 2020).
Success
This painting has been successful in various ways. First, the application of
gold color on the background of the painting outlines that the Saints are pure, and
their deeds made them be on the proximity to God (Gombrich, 1951). Second, the use
of the eight individuals has been successful in outlining the roles and responsibilities
of Christians (The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2020). All these individuals lived
holy lives, and their roles led to the rise of Christianity. Lastly, Prieto has achieved
success in his painting by using tempera on wood technique (The Metropolitan
Museum of Art, 2020). The reason is that this technique has been adapted in modern
painting in that most paintings made want to last long as the portrait being discussed.
Conclusion
Sano di Pietro's portrait of Madonna and Child with Saints is a perfect
example of an Italian Renaissance portraiture in that it represents the cultural and
religious values of Christianity. This point has been proven through the application of
gold on the portrait's background to outline the saints' proximity to God. Other facts
include the use of these eight people in the portrait to act as the foundation of
Christianity. This action has allowed people to remember and try to copy the deeds
MADONNA AND CHILD 7
performed by each person in the portrait. Lastly, the painting is a renaissance in that it
was painted during this era and focused on people's cultural and religious beliefs.
MADONNA AND CHILD 8
References
Gombrich, E. H. (1951). The Story of Art (1951). Phaidon Publishers. Retrieved from
https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.29158/page/n5/mode/2up
The Metropolitan Museum of Art.(2020). Madonna and Child with Saints Jerome,
Bernardino, John the Baptist, and Anthony of Padua and Two Angels. The
MET 150. Retrieved from
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/458982.
