Filippino Lippi: Fashioning Sacred Identity

MinKyung Kim
Professor Eggler
October 11, 2014
HA 112-310 Western Art Civilization
Fashioning Sacred Identity During the Renaissance period, fashion played a significant role as their appearances determined their wealth,status and nobility. From the use of vibrant colors, to luxurious garments, and fine jewelries, it was their statement of wealth and family background. I chose three paintings from the MET museum that depicts fashion sacred identity as it is shown through a religious point of view. Madonna and Child is a painting drawn by Filippino Lippi. Over the years, Lapis transforms into a dark shade of blue, losing its true color; however, this painting was restored and the Lapis is able to portray the beauty of its natural pigment.
The Annunciation, also performed on wood followed by The Life and Miracles of Saint Godelieve has a lot of detailing that I can go in depth within my research paper, identifying the clothes that the people are wearing, what is symbolizes and the materials of their pieces.
Throughly explaining the significance of their fashion and how it reflects their wealth. The first painting that I chose was Madonna and Child, painted by Filippino Lippi and donated by Jules Bache in 1949. Filippino Lippi is an Italian artist, born in Florence, circa 1457-1504. Lippi was one the finest Florentine painters also known as the son of Fra Filippo Lippi. Filippino was trained by his father then followed by Sandro Botticelli, also known as one of the definitive painters of the Italian Renaissance. This painting, Madonna and Child is to portray Mother Mary and baby Jesus. This sacred painting is shown through religious symbolism such as her mantle and the significance meaning behind the colors of her garment, in addition to subtle symbolisms such as the pomegranate and the halo. The first thing that catches the viewers attentions are the vibrant blue garment that Virgin Mary is wearing, also known as the mantle. The main purpose of a mantle is to be used as a clock or other article of clothing. It’s practical purposes are to keep people warm
and to protect them from the elements. However, biblically, mantles were usually worn by prophets as it was a sign of their calling from God, and some theologians saw the mantles as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. It can also be perceived as being wrapped in God’s authority. It is mentioned in the bible in Joshua 7:21-Hebrews 1:12. The eye-catching blue that was used to paint Mary’s mantle is to illustrate the vibrant hue; Filippino used the finest quality, ultramarine. Ultramarine is a pigment extracted from lapis lazuli, a mineral imported from Afghanistan. Blue does not only carry a significant behind the color, but it was also very expensive that its value cost more than gold thus, a greater gift/ sacrifice to make. Another fun fact is that Mary’s mantle was under painted with white paint in order to exploit the optical effects of the ultramarines translucency and the whites ability to reflect light, thereby intensifying the blue color. In a closer look, the viewers can also spot a pomegranate in the background. It was intentionally drawn in the background as it was to symbolize the Catholic church.