Madonna With The Child And Two Angels 1465 Fra Filippo Lippi
Fra Filippo Lippi – Madonna With The Child And Two Angels 1465
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"Madonna with Child and Two Angels" is a famous painting by Filippo Lippi. The artist, as a novice, developed a passion for the nun Lucrezia Butti. The girl accepted his advances and, refusing to serve God, the couple married. They subsequently had a son, Filippino, who also became a famous artist. This picture just shows the artist’s beloved Lucretia - apparently with the artist’s infant son. The beautiful young woman has her hands folded in prayer.
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Description of the painting "Madonna with Child and Two Angels (Madonna under Veil)" by Filippo Lippi.
"Madonna with Child and Two Angels" is a famous painting by Filippo Lippi. The artist, as a novice, developed a passion for the nun Lucrezia Butti. The girl accepted his advances and, refusing to serve God, the couple married. They subsequently had a son, Filippino, who also became a famous artist.
This picture just shows the artist’s beloved Lucretia - apparently with the artist’s infant son. The beautiful young woman has her hands folded in prayer. Her hair is adorned with pearls and a transparent veil descends on her shoulders. The dark blue dress is also decorated with pearl threads. The Child Jesus is supported in the Madonna’s arms by two curly angels. The gaze of the closest of them, sly and gentle, is directed toward the viewer. He looks more like a naughty boy than a biblical character.
In the background is a perfectly drawn landscape modeled on Flemish painting. The pale sky covered in clouds, harsh bare rocks and calm blue sea surface enhance the impression of grandeur and peace emanating from the painting. Part of the landscape’s detachment is emphasized by the warmth of the human faces depicted in the foreground.
The image of the Madonna, touching, sublime, but at the same time incredibly earthy, later became a model for followers. In particular, it was inspired by Sandro Botticelli, a pupil of Lippi. He was a friend of the artist’s son Filippino. From this time on, it became fashionable to depict Madonnas and heroines of myths as ordinary earthly women - which, no doubt, always brings the viewer closer to the images depicted in the paintings.
"The Madonna with Child and Two Angels is in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, in Room 8, dedicated to Lippi’s work.
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The child rests comfortably within her arms, his own gaze fixed upon the viewer with an almost unsettling directness. The two accompanying figures, presumably angels, stand on either side of the mother and child. Their postures are deferential; one appears to be offering something unseen, while the other gazes upwards with a look of adoration.
The background is rendered in a landscape format, depicting a distant vista of rolling hills and architectural structures. The perspective is somewhat flattened, creating a sense of depth but also contributing to the painting’s overall formality. A decorative element, resembling an ornate chair or throne, occupies the lower left corner, providing a visual anchor for the composition.
The color palette is dominated by muted earth tones – ochres, browns, and greens – with touches of blue and gold used sparingly to highlight specific details. The lighting appears soft and diffused, creating a gentle atmosphere that reinforces the painting’s devotional nature.
Subtleties within the work suggest layers of meaning beyond the immediate depiction of maternal love and divine grace. The womans expression is not one of overt joy but rather of quiet contemplation, hinting at a deeper understanding or burden. The child’s unwavering gaze could be interpreted as an invitation to introspection or even a subtle challenge to the viewer. The landscape background, while seemingly idyllic, possesses a certain austerity that prevents it from becoming purely decorative; it serves instead to emphasize the figures isolation and spiritual focus. Overall, the painting conveys a sense of solemnity and profound emotional depth, inviting contemplation on themes of faith, motherhood, and divine presence.