Visual Analysis Paper

Running head: VISUAL ANALYSIS PAPER
VISUAL ANALYSIS PAPER
Term Paper
Name Surname University Name Tutors Name October 1, 2012
VISUAL ANALYSIS PAPER Visual Analysis Paper Raphaels altarpiece Madonna and Child Enthroned with Saints is an early work of
the artist painted for the Franciscan convent of Sant Antonio in Perugia. Raphaels work was influenced by two schools: the lunette was painted in Perugia in the manner of Perugino, while saints were created in Florence where Raphael was influenced by Fra Bortolomeo. Madonna and Child Enthroned with Saints was the beginning of Raphaels manner of painting which embodied the spirit of Renaissance but it also reflected the tales of the Middle Age and amazed us with its moderation and respect to faith and church. Therefore, altarpiece Madonna and Child Enthroned with Saints by Raphael was a transition from the Middle Age Art to the Art of Renaissance. Thesis: Successful composition, medium, bright and deep color, soft light, scale of light and dark tones, use of detailed brushstrokes, and horizontal and vertical lines helps Raphael create balance, harmony, and unity in the painting and give individuality to each image of the masterpiece. First of all, the altarpiece was painted by oil and gold on wood which gave the work feeling of majesty and glory. All images of the masterpiece are depicted in clothes (even the Christ Child and little St. John the Baptist that is not usual for the Art of Renaissance). Probably, it should have shown modesty and purity of Raphaels piece. However, oil and gold made us feel feast and joy from the expectation of the Kingdom of God coming. The composition of the painting consists of three pieces. In the center we can see the square with Mary, the Christ Child, and little St. John the Baptist. Their center position allows Raphael focusing on these figures. Our attention is immediately drawn by the eyes of their images. Mary, the Christ Child, and little St. John the Baptist embody tenderness, piece, purity, and harmony. Then, the second square is created by four saints which are depicted with halos. They surround Mary, the child, and St. John the Baptist. Their eyes and faces are
VISUAL ANALYSIS PAPER
serious, thoughtful, and calm as if the Saints knew Christ mission on the Earth. The heads of two of saints are bent as if they expressed the respect to Mary and Christ. The other Saints looked at the audience strictly as if they condemned humanity for sins. The third part of the altarpiece is a semicircular section placed above the picture of Mary, the Child, and the Saints. In the semicircular section we can see the God, two angels, and two cherubim. They impressed with their simple clothes and lack of gaudiness in images. In fact, they serve to shade the square with Madonna and the Child, not to play the main part in the picture. The harmony and balance in composition is achieved by disposition of five figures above the center square with Mary and Christ and five figures below Madonna and the child (four Saints and St John the Baptist). The space is skillfully used: there are no piled parts in the picture and each figure is on the right place. On the one side, the big size of the painting (overall 67 7/8 x 67 7/8 in) also highlighted the glory and importance of the plot of the work. On the other side, it gave the artist an opportunity to depict every little brushstroke and important details of the images in the painting. Moreover, the big size of the masterpiece should have made people think about their helplessness, but, we do not feel it due to the light, color, and brushstrokes. The color of the picture helps us understand the character of the painting. First of all, the rich colors help us feel happiness and joy from the birth of the Christ and his coming to the Earth. The artist used different colors, but purple, red, and blue predominate. Colors allow contrasting the images from the background of the painting. Thus, red, yellow, and green clothes of Saints are distinguished against the blue and purple sky. Red and yellow gives the picture more warmth, reliability, and calmness. The luminosity of the sky reflects different feelings. Thus, deep blue sky shows peace, calmness, and happiness, while purple line creates the feeling of worry and expectation of changes. Moreover, the dark background of the semicircular section highlights mysterious nature of the God and our fear and respect
VISUAL ANALYSIS PAPER to his mystery. Dark colors of Mary and two cherubims clothes show their purity and modesty. Besides, the scale of tones is changed from light to dark one. The images are made in lighter tones, while the background is painted in darker tones. It allows Raphael making the
audience concentrate on the main images. Mary and the Child attract attention by the lightest tones. Their faces and clothes are much lighter than the figures of the God, cherubim, angels, and Saints. Raphael plays with light in his work successfully. The soft light that falls to the face of Madonna, her child, St. John the Baptist, and two Saints which are placed above is the brightest in the painting. Then, the light becomes darker at the bottom and at the top of the picture. It helps us to focus on the center square of the painting. Such use of light helps Raphael frame the center figures. It also allows the artist expressing Madonnas maternal tenderness, sincere love, and sinless purity. In the altarpiece Madonna and Child Enthroned with Saints horizontal and vertical lines predominate. In general, the combination of horizontal and vertical lines creates a picture of glory, majesty, and stability of the Christian faith. Two squares are divided by a horizontal wooden bar which provides us with feeling of peace, reliability, and fundamental character. By contrast, the frame of the painting was made in the form of tall vertical columns. The vertical lines gave the artist an opportunity to express the solemn character of the work. Then, as each masterpiece of Renaissance, the work of Raphael impresses us by its details. Each brushstroke is neatly done. There is no any little detail that Raphael missed in the painting: each toe of the Saints feet, fingers and nails of the Child and St. John the Baptist, wrinkles on the face of the Saint, the expression of images eyes, the pattern of the cloth, and even roughness of the column are depicted by the artist skillfully. It helps Raphael
VISUAL ANALYSIS PAPER create true-to-life images and make a painting more natural and closer to audience. The detailed brushstrokes give individual character to each image of the picture, since no one image repeats. In conclusion, it is necessary to say that successful composition, medium, bright and deep color, soft light, scale of light and dark tones, use of detailed brushstrokes, and
horizontal and vertical lines helps Raphael create balance, harmony, and unity in the painting and give individuality to each image of the masterpiece. In fact, Raphaels work has changed my understanding of the Art of Renaissance. Before analysis of the altarpiece, I supposed that the Art of Renaissance was focused only on the naturalism of bodies. Now I understand that artists of Renaissance managed to attract attention to sole and spirit through the depiction of bodies. Moreover, Raphael did not refuse from techniques that were used in the art in the Middle Age. He just combined them with techniques of classicism. References:

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Running head: VISUAL ANALYSIS PAPER

VISUAL ANALYSIS PAPER

Name Surname University Name Tutors Name October 1, 2012

VISUAL ANALYSIS PAPER

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