Legends of the Madonna, as represented in the fine artsForming the third series of Sacred and legendary art . de; on theother, St. Barbara. St. John the Baptist, not as a child,and the contemporary of our Saviour, but in likeness of anArcadian shepherd, kneels with his cross and his lamb — theEcce Agnus Dei, expressed, not in words, but in form. stands by as a guardian warrior. And St. Joseph,leaning on his stick behind, contemplates the group with anair of dignified complacency. 2. Here is another instance also from Titian. In a mostluxuriant landscape thick with imbowering trees, a
Legends of the Madonna, as represented in the fine artsForming the third series of Sacred and legendary art . de; on theother, St. Barbara. St. John the Baptist, not as a child,and the contemporary of our Saviour, but in likeness of anArcadian shepherd, kneels with his cross and his lamb — theEcce Agnus Dei, expressed, not in words, but in form. stands by as a guardian warrior. And St. Joseph,leaning on his stick behind, contemplates the group with anair of dignified complacency. 2. Here is another instance also from Titian. In a mostluxuriant landscape thick with imbowering trees, and themountains of Cadore in the background, the Virgin isseated on a verdant bank; St. Catherine has thrown her-self on her knees, and stretches out her arms to the divineChild in an ecstasy of adoration, in which there is nothingunseendy or familiar. At a distance St. John the Baptistapproaches with his lamb. 3. In another very similar group, the action of St. Catlie- PASTORAL MADONNAS. 141 rine is rather too familiar, — it is that of an ekler sister or anurse: the young St. John kneels in ?1 ^ 4. Wonderfully fine is a picture of this class by Palma, nowin the Dresden Gallery. The noble, serious, sumptuous love-liness of the Virgin; the exquisite Child, so thoughtful, yetso infantine; the manly beauty of the St. John ; the charminghumility of the St. Catherine as she presents her palm,form one of the most perfect groups in the world. Childhood,motherhood, maidenhood, manhood, were never, I think,combined in so sweet a spirit of humanity.^ 5. In another picture by Palma, in the same gallery, we havethe same picturesque arrangement of the Virgin and Child,while the little St. John adores with folded hands, and sits by in tender contemplation. This Arcadian sentiment is carried as far as could well beallowed in a picture by Titian, known as the Vierge au Lapiii. LomThe Virgin holds a white rabbit, towards which the infantChrist, in the arms of St. Cath
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade18, booksubjectmaryblessedvirginsaint
