Madonna of the Pear Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528)
Albrecht Dürer – Madonna of the Pear
Edit attribution
Download full size: 2922×3983 px (2,7 Mb)
Painter: Albrecht Dürer
Location: Uffizi gallery, Florence (Galleria degli Uffizi).
Album navigation:
In a series of his extraordinary portraits done over a decade (from 1510 to 1520), Dürer managed to bring together all the best qualities of man. He spent long years drawing and studying human personalities in order to learn how to convey them as accurately as possible in his works. After a long search and definition of what exactly canonical human beauty should be, as well as numerous attempts to substantiate ideal norms of human appearance, he still stopped his choice on the face of a modern German man. Such a representative was bound to belong to the intelligentsia.
ArtClub
Best Contemporary Atists
Description of Albrecht Dürer’s painting of Mary and Child
In a series of his extraordinary portraits done over a decade (from 1510 to 1520), Dürer managed to bring together all the best qualities of man. He spent long years drawing and studying human personalities in order to learn how to convey them as accurately as possible in his works.
After a long search and definition of what exactly canonical human beauty should be, as well as numerous attempts to substantiate ideal norms of human appearance, he still stopped his choice on the face of a modern German man.
Such a representative was bound to belong to the intelligentsia. He had to be slightly anxious, anxious, have his own internal contradictions, be sufficiently strong-willed and possess a rich spiritual world and energy. Such important features Dürer is trying to find among the representatives of his contemporaries.
In all of his portraits remains such a familiar character. However, he manages to completely get rid of the vestiges of past times - the external fragmentation, excessive angularity of the human face, the rigidity of color shades and lines. The heroes from his portraits are always very integral and free in their poses and manners. The figures in the composition are always arranged very naturally, not protruding beyond the compositional space allotted to them.
Among geometric forms there is always a certain generalization and similarity, they are quite plastic. Similarly, in his work "Mary with the Child". The ovals and facial features echo each other. At the same time they are all made very smooth rounded lines, with no sharp corners. The bright details bring a certain boldness and contradiction to the composition. They all look whole and harmonious.
You cannot comment Why?
The child is nestled against his mother’s chest, holding a small pear in one hand and what appears to be a sprig or stem in the other. His gaze is directed outwards, exhibiting an almost unsettling directness that contrasts with the womans inward focus. The infant’s features are rendered with a degree of realism that borders on the unconventional; his proportions and facial structure deviate from idealized depictions common in similar portrayals.
The pear itself holds symbolic weight. Its presence introduces a layer of complexity, potentially referencing themes of abundance, temptation, or even alluding to the story of Adam and Eve. The fruit’s placement within the childs grasp suggests an early introduction to worldly concerns or perhaps a foreshadowing of future experiences.
The dark background serves to isolate the figures, intensifying their emotional impact and drawing attention to the subtle nuances of light and shadow that define their forms. The artist employed a meticulous technique, evident in the precise rendering of skin tones, fabrics, and details like individual hairs. This level of detail contributes to an overall impression of realism while simultaneously imbuing the scene with a quiet dignity and profound emotional depth.
The painting’s subtexts revolve around themes of maternal love, innocence, and perhaps a subtle commentary on human vulnerability and the complexities of existence. The unusual depiction of the childs features invites contemplation about societal norms regarding beauty and acceptance, while the pear introduces an element of ambiguity that encourages multiple interpretations.