Legends of the Madonna, as represented in the fine artsForming the third series of Sacred and legendary art . essand coldness of the Byzantine maniier. There are threeadoring angels on each side, disposed one above another, andfour prophets are placed below in separate niches, half-figures, holding in theirhands their propheticscrolls, as in the oldmosaic at Capua, al-ready described. Thesecond is preserved inthe Ruccellai chapel, inthe S. Maria Novella,in its original spite of its colossalsize, and formal attitude,and severe style, theface of this Madonna isvery striking, and hasbeen
Legends of the Madonna, as represented in the fine artsForming the third series of Sacred and legendary art . essand coldness of the Byzantine maniier. There are threeadoring angels on each side, disposed one above another, andfour prophets are placed below in separate niches, half-figures, holding in theirhands their propheticscrolls, as in the oldmosaic at Capua, al-ready described. Thesecond is preserved inthe Ruccellai chapel, inthe S. Maria Novella,in its original spite of its colossalsize, and formal attitude,and severe style, theface of this Madonna isvery striking, and hasbeen well described as sweet and unearthly,reminding you of asibyl. The infant Christis also very fine. Thereare three angels on each side, who seem to sustain the carved chair or throne onwhich the Madonna is seated; and the prophets, insteadof being below, are painted in small circular medallionsdown each side of the frame. The throne and the back- * The meaning, for it is not easy to translate literally, is Me, hath painted,in pleasant days, Guido of Siena, Upon whose soul may Christ deign to havemercy !^. 33 THE VIRGIN AND CHILD ENTHRONED. 71 ground are covered with gold. Yasari gives a very graphicand animated account of the estimation in which this picturewas held when first executed. Its colossal dimensions, thoughfamiliar in the great mosaics, were hitherto unknown inpainting; and not less astonishing appeared the deviation,though slight, from ugliness and lifelessness into grace andnature. And thus, he says, it happened that this workwas an object of so much admiration to the people of thatday, they having then never seen anything better, that itwas carried in solemn procession, with the sound of trumpetsand other festal demonstrations, from the house of Cimabueto the church, he himself being highly rewarded and honouredfor it. It is further reported, and may be read in certainrecords of old painters, that, whilst Cimabue was paintingthis picture, in a garden near the gate
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade18, booksubjectmaryblessedvirginsaint
