Raphael's "Madonna of the Meadows"

I chose to do my analysis on Raphaels "Madonna of the Meadows". In this painting my eye is first drawn to the Madonna, or the Virgin Mary. From Mary my eyes go to the baby that is sitting on the ground and then to the one standing with Marys help. I believe that this is done because Mary is the largest so my eyes go to her first. My eyes go next to the baby sitting because that is the way that Mary is looking. Next I am drawn to the second baby because the first is looking at him; finally my eye is drawn back to Mary mostly because of the staff or cross that the babies are holding.

The style of the painting is from the Renaissance so it comes into classical art. Also it can be viewed as humanism. I feel that it is humanism because it has to do with interests of people (religion) and also a philosophy (Christianity). The style of Raphael can be compared to the style of da Vinci and Michelangelo. Because the painting is part of the Renaissance time period the painting is representational. It represents Mary, John the Baptist and Jesus as Raphael saw them. Realism is the form of representational painting Madonna of the Meadows is considered. This is because I can tell that the forms are people and they look mostly real.

The painting is done in a two-dimensional surface. The perspective is atmospheric perspective. As I look at the painting, I see how the colors get duller and the objects get smaller. The painting is also one-point perspective. The vanishing point is near the center of the painting. This point makes me feel as if I am looking straight onto the scene.

Raphael does not make me aware of either surface or texture. Looking at the painting, I cannot tell anything of his strokes or what type of canvas he used. Also I do not feel that I am able to tell a light source. The light is just from the front and center. It seems like the light is from the center of the painting, where I seem to be sitting. I can tell this because the shadows are cast to the back of the painting. Another thing that Raphael does not use is illusion. Everything is what it seems and everything is real and there is no deception. Raphael seems to wants us to see what is there.

The type of balance is asymmetrical because both sides are not the same. There is a larger form that is more attractive and most likely heavier, but she is balanced by the two littler objects (the babies). Mary also has on more intense colors (red and blue) while the babies are in paler colors. Also the background is green and can balance a large blue form. Raphael uses every type of way to balance a asymmetrical painting according to our text book on page 77. He must have known his principles of design.

Raphaels Madonna of the Meadows is a very interesting painting. Without knowing who the Madonna is or who the babies are in the painting I feel it could be interpreted completely differently. Some person not knowing the name of the painting may just think that it is a women with her two children enjoying a day out in the field. From this point of view I feel like the two babies could be even fighting over the staff. I also think that the women could be soothing the naked baby while giving a stern look at the other.

Of course this point of view is not what Raphael wanted us to see. In fact, I feel that if Raphael even heard this take on his painting he might be appalled. Maybe that is why he named the painting what it is. The name gives us an idea on how Raphael wanted us to view the painting.

According to how Raphael wants us to see things, Madonna is the Virgin Mary. The naked baby is Jesus and the other baby is John the Baptist. John is passing his staff to Jesus because he is one person who help people know that Jesus was coming. The cross on the top of this staff is to symbolize the cross on which Jesus suffered.

Emotions seem to be running high in the painting, there is love from Mary to both of the babies. This is shown by how she looks at John and how gently she is holding Jesus. However, in Marys face I also see sadness. I feel this is because she knew what Jesus would have to suffer through. Raphael really makes me feel this emtions. This could be because I do believe in Jesus so it is easy for me to see all this.

I also find it interesting that Jesus is naked. I spent much time on thinking why. Finally, I think I may have figure it out. He is naked because he is pure, and clothing would only distract from that. Also, he is naked because that is how most babies where painted during the time period. The clothing of John is very interesting also. He is wearing the clothes he wore in the wild and as he was preaching about the coming of Jesus.

The colors Raphael used seem to sooth me. Also the way the people are painted does this to me. The rounded faces with the lighter colors makes me feel a bit calmer. This is what I feel he intended to do.

Raphael, like may other artists in the Renaissance, painted pictures of religious figures. This is not his only one of Mary and Jesus. I find this very interesting. Raphael may have felt very strongly about Mary and Jesus together. However, his paintings are of Jesus as a child. I was wondering why this was. I think it may be because we were all babies, so that is the easiest way for us to see Jesus. Plus Christmas is a very big holiday.

All in all, I feel that Raphaels Madonna of the Meadows is an amazing painting. It is one that speaks to me in many levels. Also from the point of view of an art critic, I feel that he has done so many things right to make the painting marvelous . Raphael followed most of the principles of design set in our book. This is a painting that I would love to have in my house and I hope many other feel the same way about it.