Legends of the Madonna, as represented in the fine artsForming the third series of Sacred and legendary art . w, the resemblanceand the contrast are both striking. To the right of the Virginkneels the burgomaster Meyer with two of his sons, one ofwhom holds the little brother who is restored to health, andseems to present him to the people. On the left kneel fourfemales—the mother, the grandmother, and two these are portraits, touched with that homely, vigoroustruth, and finished with that consummate delicacy, whichcharacterised Holbein in his happiest efforts; and, with theirear
Legends of the Madonna, as represented in the fine artsForming the third series of Sacred and legendary art . w, the resemblanceand the contrast are both striking. To the right of the Virginkneels the burgomaster Meyer with two of his sons, one ofwhom holds the little brother who is restored to health, andseems to present him to the people. On the left kneel fourfemales—the mother, the grandmother, and two these are portraits, touched with that homely, vigoroustruth, and finished with that consummate delicacy, whichcharacterised Holbein in his happiest efforts; and, with theirearnest but rather ugly and earthly faces, contrasting with the divinely compassionateand refined being wholooks down on them withair so human, so maternal,and yet so unearthly. Sometimes it is a singlevotary who kneels beforethe Madonna. In the oldtimes he expressed hishumility by placing him-self in a corner and mak-ing himself so diminutiveas to be scarce visible;afterwards, the head ofthe votary or donor isseen life-size, with handsjoined in prayer, justabove the margin at thefoot of the throne ; care. w. c. 46. 46 Votive Madonna. 112 LEGENDS OF THE MADONNA. being taken to remove him from all juxtaposition with theattendant saints. But, as the religious feeling in art declined,the living votaries are mingled with the spiritual patrons—the human mortals with the human immortals,—witha disregard to time and place, which, if it be not so lowly inspirit, can be rendered bj a great artist strikingly poeticaland significant. 1. The renowned Madonna di Foligno, one of Raphaelsmasterpieces, is a votive picture of this class. It was dedi-cated by Sigismund Conti of Foligno, private secretary toPope Julius II., and a distinguished man in other respects, awriter and a patron of learning. It appears that Sigismundhaving been in great danger from a meteor or thunderbolt,vowed an offering to the blessed Virgin, to whom he attributedhis safety, and in fulfilment of his vow consecrated
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