Sandro Botticelli’s Madonna and Child with an Angel

Sandro Botticelli’s Madonna and Child with an Angel

Date: 1470

Material: Tempera on wood

Location: Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston.

Botticelli had the patronage of the Medici family. His first dated painting was “Fortitude,” painted in 1470. In 1481, Botticelli was one of several artists commissioned to decorate the Sistine chapel. Some of his well know pieces are Primavera, Birth of Venus, Madonna the Magnificat, and the Mystic Nativity. His last work, one that he never finished, was the illustrations for Dante’s Divine Comedy. Early in his career, Botticelli worked in the workshop of Fra Filippo Lippi. It is said that Lippi influenced him in his earlier works, (Oxford Art Online.)

Botticelli painted “Madonna and Child with an Angel” around 1470. The medium he used to paint was tempera and oil on wood. In the painting are three figures. On the left is an angel wearing a white gown with a decorated collar. The folds of the gown gather under the collar and sweep over the front of the gown. His sleeves are puffed at the shoulder. He has shoulder length curly brown hair, and on his head is a laurel wreath. He is presenting a bowl full of grain and grapes to Christ. On the right, Mary is sitting with Christ. She is wearing a red empire waist dress. The folds of the dress gather at the bottom of the waist line. Over the dress, Mary is wearing a blue robe, that is lined with either dark blue or black cloth. Each of her sleeves have a flounce with the edges embroidered. Mary’s hair is tied in a bun and over

her head she is wearing a beautiful see though veil that rests on her shoulders. The red Mary is wearing symbolizes Christ’s passion and blood and the blue she is wearing symbolizes her purity. Christ is resting in her left arm. Botticelli has painted him to be a chubby and healthy looking baby. He has a light blue cloth that is wrapped over his left arm and goes over his middle, Christ’s right hand is in the air, blessing the grain and wine that angel brought. This symbolizes the Eucharist, (www.wga.hu, "Madonna and Child with an Angel.")

The figures are outside, Mary is sitting holding Christ, the angel is standing on her right side. Behind them, is a stone wall structure; the wall makes it seem like they are in a room. The wall directly behind them has a doorway, showing the landscape. There is a line of trees next to a river that curves out of sight. On the left bank of the river is a church, beyond the church are hills, and then the sky.

I chose this piece, because I like Botticelli’s details in the painting, especially Mary’s veil and the halos on the figures.

Sources:

Charles Dempsey. "Botticelli, Sandro." Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. 2 Mar. 2010 <http://0-www.oxfordartonline.com.lrc.cod.edu/subscriber/article/grove/art/T010385>.

Web Gallery of Art "Madonna and Child with an Angel" http://www.wga.hu/html/b/botticel/1early/110madon.html

Bibliography:

Stokstad, Mary. Art History. 3rd ed. New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc, 2008

Web Gallery of Art "Madonna and Child with an Angel" http://www.wga.hu/html/b/botticel/1early/110madon.html

Charles Dempsey. "Botticelli, Sandro." Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. 2 Mar. 2010 <http://0-www.oxfordartonline.com.lrc.cod.edu/subscriber/article/grove/art/T010385>.

Web Gallery of Art “Botticelli, Sandro.” <http://www.wga.hu/bio/b/botticel/biograph.html>.