Legends of the Madonna, as represented in the fine artsForming the third series of Sacred and legendary art . must, however, discriminate between the familiarity of the domestic subject and the purely religious treatment. When the Giovannino adores THE MATER AMABILIS. 133 with folded hands, as acknowledging in Christ a superiorpower, or kisses his feet humbly, or points to him exulting,then it is evident that we have the two Children in theirspiritual character, the Child Priest and King, and the ChildProphet. In a picture by Leonardo da Vinci, the Madonna, serious coii. ofand beautiful, witho
Legends of the Madonna, as represented in the fine artsForming the third series of Sacred and legendary art . must, however, discriminate between the familiarity of the domestic subject and the purely religious treatment. When the Giovannino adores THE MATER AMABILIS. 133 with folded hands, as acknowledging in Christ a superiorpower, or kisses his feet humbly, or points to him exulting,then it is evident that we have the two Children in theirspiritual character, the Child Priest and King, and the ChildProphet. In a picture by Leonardo da Vinci, the Madonna, serious coii. ofand beautiful, without either crown or veil, and adorned only her long fair hair, is seated on a rock. On one side, thelittle Christ, supported in the arms of an angel, raises hishand in benediction; on the other side, the young St. John,presented by the Virgin, kneels in adoration. Where the Children are merely embracing each other, orsporting at the feet of the Virgin, or playing with the cross,or with a bird, or with the lamb, or with flowers, we mightcall the treatment domestic or poetical; but where St. John. Andrea del Sarto. is taking the cross from the hand of Christ, it is clear, fromthe perpetual repetition of the theme, that it is intended to 134 LEGENDS OF THE MADONNA. express a religious allegory. It is the mission of St. Johnas Baptist and Prophet. He receives the symbol of faith erehe goes forth to preach and to convert, or as it has been in-terpreted, he, in the sense used by our Lord, takes up thecross of our Lord. The first is, I think, the meaning whenthe cross is enwreathed with the Ecce Agnus Dei; the latter,when it is a simple cross. /^- /^^^^ A^ « ?f ^^^^^y \ ^fe H ^^L^-*^ ^^p ^^^?^^^ ^^^\v x^m /; ^^ ^^Ml y^ \\^ v,m ^^ r^ a/f^^l1^^--^--» ^^^ ^*aB< *? ^^^^^sT^lt w^// ^ ^ ^wm-:m/^^. SnwAh^ \^== -i f/l IpxW ^ —1 f\^JjlW V =f ^i^ ^Ifv^^^^ 66 Guido.
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade18, booksubjectmaryblessedvirginsaint
