The early work of Raphael . echild, whose face is lifted in eager questioning to hers, while St. Johnkneels reverently at her feet. This picture is generally supposed tobe the one which Vasari mentions as having been finished by RidolfoGhirlandajo, who painted the Virgins blue mantle, after Raphael hadleft Florence. But it is doubtful if the picture to which Vasarialludes may not have been the Colonna Virgin, at Berlin, which waspainted later, and clearly executed by an inferior hand. These three pictures—the Cardellino, Prato, and Louvre Madonnas—rank among Raphaels most perfect creations. In
The early work of Raphael . echild, whose face is lifted in eager questioning to hers, while St. Johnkneels reverently at her feet. This picture is generally supposed tobe the one which Vasari mentions as having been finished by RidolfoGhirlandajo, who painted the Virgins blue mantle, after Raphael hadleft Florence. But it is doubtful if the picture to which Vasarialludes may not have been the Colonna Virgin, at Berlin, which waspainted later, and clearly executed by an inferior hand. These three pictures—the Cardellino, Prato, and Louvre Madonnas—rank among Raphaels most perfect creations. In all three the Virginsface is full of charm, the children are animated by the same freeand natural movement, and the landscape is of the same rich and:varied description. Tall pines and distant lakes, still waters sleepingin the shadow of blue mountains, heights crowned with castles andbell-towers adorn the background, and bear witness to Raphaels delightin the beauty of the natural world. The flowers and grasses of the. La Belle Jardiniere. By Raphael. In the a photograph by Braun, Clement et Cie, by permission. THE EARLY WORK OF RAPHAEL 67 foreground, the very weeds and rushes, are painted with loving careand accuracy. We watch the fleecy white clouds floating across thesky, and the dim haze that rests on the hills through the summer the scenery recalls the Tuscan Apennines in the neighbourhood ofFlorence. In the Cardellino Madonna, for instance, we have a pictur-esque valley, such as you may see in the mountainous district at Vallom-brosa or La Vernia, with a single arched bridge spanning the torrent, onthe one hand, and on the other, the Duomo and Campanile of Giotto. The bride of Lorenzo Nasi, who received this fair wedding gift fromRaphael, was Sandra Canigiani, and it was for a member of her familythat the Canigiani Madonna at Munich was originally painted. Thispicture afterwards became the property of the Medici, and was given asa wedding prese
Size: 1282px × 1949px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookde, booksubjectraphael14831520, bookyear1895
