Raphael – Madonna of the Meadow Kunsthistorisches Museum

Description of the painting "Madonna in Green" by Raphael Santi

In the defining years of his artistic development, Raphael Santi is in the city of Florence. From 1504 the artist absorbed the skills of Michelangelo and his gifted colleague Leonardo da Vinci who created here. Before that young Raphael had only mastered the traditions of the early Renaissance. Now he adopted much of the stylistics of the masters, whose talent was in its heyday. In addition, the painter practiced a lot in drawing, studied the proportions and plasticity of the body, mastered the contrasts of light and shadow.

"Madonna in Green" is the result of this painstaking and enthusiastic study. The painting was created in 1506. It depicts the Mother of God in a landscape, sitting in a meadow. At her feet are two infants: Jesus next to John the Baptist. Apocryphal evidence suggests that the Baptist recognized Christ as the Messiah while they were still children. The religious subject has become an excellent means to portray the emerging story of a great spiritual journey.

"Madonna in the Green" is lyrical, musical, and moderately colorful. The young Mary, with a slight blush on her porcelain face, lowers her gentle gaze to the infants; love and serenity are read in her countenance. The boy John, half-sitting, holds out a wooden cross to the standing Jesus. The lush forms of the three figures express prosperity.

The landscape background is drawn in detail. On it, the water surface stretches across the width of the canvas, mountains and the city rise up. The immediate background is filled with strokes of olive and deep green. The composition has a pyramidal structure.

Raphael painted several "Madonnas" beginning at age 15. One of the best is "Madonna in Green". Intended for Taddeo Taddei, a comrade and patron of the artist, the canvas later ended up in the collection of the Belvedere Palace, and is now in the historic Vienna Museum.