My Interpretation of Raphael's Sistine Madonna

1087 Words3 Pages

In August, 2012 it was the 500th anniversary of Raphael’s great masterpiece, the painting known as the “Sistine Madonna” (Bleibtreu, 2013). Although many years have passed, not all the mysteries have been discovered, yet regarding this painting. My paper is about my interpretation of “Sistine Madonna” incorporated with some facts about renaissance and the colors of that period of time, including, some famous people’s opinions, magazines’ reviews and Raphael Sanzio’s interpretation. Moreover, I include in this paper the opinions of simple people such as that of my family and my friends.
This painting was one of Raphael’s last paintings and he had painted it after receiving a request from Pope Julius the Second, for San Sisto Church, which is why it was called “Sistine Madonna” (Shelley Esaak, no date). In this painting, the main personage is Virgin Mary. She is in blue and red (she appears in those colors in almost all the classical paintings), with baby Jesus Christ in her arms, standing on the clouds and surrounded by Saint Sixtus, and Saint Barbara. There are two little angels resting on their elbows in front of them.
Different people had numerous explanations and interpretations of this significant painting, although many of those famous people looked at it from the same angle. Despite the fact that their opinions differed from each other, no one had a negative view about this great painting. Most of those people were inspired by it and some of them were keeping the copy of “Sistine Madonna” in their rooms as well. Fyodor Dostoyevsky was captivated by this painting and said: “What beauty, innocence and sadness in the countenance, what humility and suffering in those eyes” (Susan Benford, no date). The great philosopher, Friedr...

... middle of paper ...

...the Cherubs. The wall street journal. Retrieved from: http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303561504577496920393789602
Mckay B. & K., (2010). The Basics of Art: The Renaissance, The Art of Manliness. Retrieved from: http://www.artofmanliness.com/2010/07/16/man-knowledge-the-basics-of-art-the-renaissance/

Ott M. (2013), Pope St. Sixtus II, Catholic Encyclopedia, Retrieved from: http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Catholic_Encyclopedia_(1913)/Pope_St._Sixtus_II
Zmuida, C. (n.d.) Techniques Used in Renaissance Art, eHow, Retrieved from: http://www.ehow.com/facts_4897120_techniques-used-renaissance-art.html
Raphael: Sistine Madonna (2007). Art & Critique. Retrieved from: http://artandcritique.com/raphael-the-sistine-madonna/
Saint Barbara, (n.d.) Coptic Orthodox Church Network, Retrieved from: http://www.copticchurch.net/topics/synexarion/barbara.html

Open Document