Analyzing Raffaello Sanzio's 'Madonna & Child With Book'

Terrence Buchanan Raffaello Sanzio
"Madonna & Child with Book"

This piece by Raphael was in my opinion a devotional work that was dedicated to the believers of Christ and to the masses to be moved as well being enlightened. It showcases the Virgin Mary along with an infant christ. The depth of this piece contains a fluid and geometrically pleasing structure of a pyramid from the top of Mary's head all the way down to her torso. Her dark blue gown creates somewhat of a silhouette that attracts your attention to the infant Christ. The use of emotion and symbolism runs deep for a number of different reasons. For one, this piece focuses on Christ and Mary both holding a book known as the Ninth Hour, or Nones of the Canonical Officers that
The passion and emotion is evident through this piece as viewers can identify the symbolism that is taking place. Raphael used an oil tempura medium with this piece and made use of spacial reasoning with his objects being tied together so fluidly. His use of lighting is perfect with the sun being casted from the right. You can see the sky on the right hand of the painting with more sunlight which leads to the dark silhouette that features a shadow on the left side of the Child Christ and Virgin Mary. His use of lighting and structure completely draws your attention to the main focus of the painting which is the Virgin and Christ who are in comparison very light opposed to the dark silhouette that binds them. I believe this piece was made for a public audience so that it can be used as a tool for witnessing the gospel of the Savior. Raffaello was a nomadic artist that traveled from here to there in different parts of Italy, but for the most part he resided in Florence. The location of Florence was of the most important to the Renaissance and I believe this piece was intended to educate and move his peers through his use of Humanism and emotion. The Renaissance was a centerpiece with