Holy Mother of Art

Religion has always been the subject of European art in early centuries. Why is that? Jesus, the Madonna, angels, and the saints have always been inspiration to painters all over the world. Maybe it is because of the sacred and pure nature that they possess. Maybe it is for the artists to say that they still love and worship the Lord God their savior. Maybe the paintings are to save their souls from eternal damnation. Who can actually say really? The theme of religion in paintings really do hit home. Berlinghieri's Saint Francis Altarpiece and Giotto's Madonna Enthroned both display such high devotion to God and religion each in their own ways. They made have the same theme in mind, but their styles help them do so in different ways. Both works are so powerful and complex. They cannot be broken down so easily. In order to get the full story behind the paintings, one has to really dig deeper into their histories and styles.

Saint Francis Altarpiece (Pg. 500) is painted by Bonaventura Berlinghieri. This painting is of St. Francis with his stigmata in the center of everything. He is the central focus of the painting. This is obvious due to his big size in the painting. Everything else that is small around him is just details of his life. They all seem to talk about his deeds and how he received the stigmata in the first place. The size of these scenes seems to suggest that his life was not that important to know about. This painting is tempera on wood. (http://74.125.45.132/search?q=cache:e0ovdaq5jkMJ:teachers.sduhsd.net/mallen/aparthistory/docs/Early%2520Italian%2520Renaissance.doc+Saint+Francis+Altarpiece,+information&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3&gl=us) The internal panel is Maniera greca, or Greek style. This was an Italian-Byzantine style. This was pretty popular around the 13th century. The stigmata are on St. Francis’ hands and feet. Everything seems flat and lifeless in this painting. Artists in the 13th century did not really seem to go for flashy and elaborate designs for their work. The subject of religion was more important than any fancy design in those times. Saint Francis Altarpiece is living proof of that state of mind.

Madonna Enthroned (Pg. 503) is also about religion. This is of the Virgin Mary with Baby Jesus surrounded by many angels. Like Saint Francis Altarpiece, Madonna Enthroned is tempera painted on wood. It is also heavily focused on religion as well. Madonna Enthroned seems by painted in the style Maniera greca as well. The Madonna and child is the biggest item in the whole painting. The angels are much smaller and less important. They are in the center of the picture says that they are important to the viewer. Giotto broke more through the Byzantine past with this painting. (http://campus.queens.edu/faculty/rhodesk/medieval_italian_art.htm) The Madonna stares straight at the viewer boldly. Saint Francis Altarpiece seems to be more biographical while Madonna Enthroned is a dreamlike vision to viewers. The painting seems to look all closed together, but yet there is a strong sense of space in the canvas. Saint Francis Altarpiece is free with space and is not cluttered at all. Madonna Enthroned seems to appeal more to the heart as well where Saint Francis Altarpiece is just lifeless and flat to the viewer. Madonna Enthroned may seem dull and lifeless, but there is a little life in the figures and color to have a small soul within it.

Both Saint Francis Altarpiece and Madonna Enthroned are icons of religious painting in the early century of European art. They are both beautiful in their own holy way. European art in the early centuries gave rise to more great art in the later centuries. Paintings of the iconic style may have been forgotten, but it stays with the viewer for a long time once seen to the world in their splendor and glory.

Works Cited

Kleiner, Fred S. Gardner’s Art Through the Ages A Global History Thirteenth Edition Volume One. Thomson Wadsworth, Boston, MA: 2009

Unknown.  Bonaventura Berlinghieri, panel from the Saint Francis Altarpiece, San Francesco, Pescia, Italy, 1235, Tempera on wood.

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Unknown. Prep Course for the May 2003 Italy Study Tour -- IEPS 210.002 “Medieval Italian Art” “Giotto.”

<http://campus.queens.edu/faculty/rhodesk/medieval_italian_art.htm>