Madonna del Prado

Artist: Raphael

Title: Madonna del Prado

Date: 1505

Medium: Oil on board

Providence: Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna

Source: http://artandcritique.com/raphael-madonna-of-the-meadow/

Describe: Mary, the virgin mother, with her son, Jesus Christ, and nephew, John the Baptist. Colors are bright red and blue, and muted browns, greens and blues. Mary, Jesus, and John form a triangle shape in the center of the painting. Off in the distance is a vast landscape.

Analyze: Value is not very different throughout the painting, most of the brightness is the same, except it highlights the people in front. The triangular formation of the figures along with the stick held by one of the boys, leads the eye towards the virgin mother. Primary colors are used; red, yellow and blues. Form creates the illusion of 3D people uses geometric forms likes triangles and squares to emphasize the bodies of the woman and children. There is space created, making the people larger and the landscape seem distant in the background. The balance is symmetric, the shape is evenly a triangle, and creates unity among the three figures.

Interpret: The viewers eye runs to the middle of the painting, which is all three people, I think it represents unity. The formation of the triangle emphasizes the mothers protection, or mother of the church, and watch over the children of God. The landscape in the back shows the world outside the mothers protection. The mood of the painting is set by the colors, it is happy and loving.

Judge: The piece combines religion, art, and reality. The work draws me in by the face of the mother and love for her child and nephew. It shows the real ness and Mary as a mother, not just a holy being. The colors and shapes create an interesting composition that reminds me of family. The artist successfully illustrated unity and love of a mother for her family.