Legends of the Madonna, as represented in the fine artsForming the third series of Sacred and legendary art . years afterwards, the Virgin, in all devotionalsubjects, was associated in some visible manner with her divineSon, in this she appears without the Infant in her arms. Thematernal character is set aside, and she stands alone, absolute inherself, and complete in her own perfections. This is a very sig-nificant characteristic of the prevalent theology of the time. I forbear to say much of the productions of a school of art whichsprung up simultaneously with that of the Caracci, and in the
Legends of the Madonna, as represented in the fine artsForming the third series of Sacred and legendary art . years afterwards, the Virgin, in all devotionalsubjects, was associated in some visible manner with her divineSon, in this she appears without the Infant in her arms. Thematernal character is set aside, and she stands alone, absolute inherself, and complete in her own perfections. This is a very sig-nificant characteristic of the prevalent theology of the time. I forbear to say much of the productions of a school of art whichsprung up simultaneously with that of the Caracci, and in the endoverpowered its higher aspirations. The Naturalisti, as they werecalled, imitated nature without selection, and produced somecharming painters. But their religious pictures are almost in-tolerable, and their Madonnas are almost all portraits. Rubensand Albano painted their wives; AUori and Vandyck their mis-tresses; Domenichino his daughter. Salvator Rosa, in his Satires,exclaims against this general profaneness in terms not less strongthan those of Savonarola in his Sermons ; but the corruption was. 151 An Effect of I>i«ht <ind Shade. by this time beyond the reach of cure ; the sin could neither bepreached nor chided away. Striking effects of light and shade, INTKODUCTION. XXXIX peculiar attitudes, scenic group?, the perpetual and dramaticintroduction of legendary scenes and personages, of visions andmiracles of the Madonna vouchsafed to her votaries, characterise theproductions of the seventeenth century. As they who are wholeneed not a physician, but they who are sick, so in proportion to tliedecline of faith were the excitements to faith, or rather to credu-lity : just in proportion as men Avere less inclined to believe werethe wonders multiplied which they were called on to believe. I have not spoken of the influence of Jesuitism on art. ThisOrder kept alive that devotion for the Madonna which their greatfounder Loyola had so ardently professed when he chose for
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade18, booksubjectmaryblessedvirginsaint
