Virgin and child was one of the great works that were common in 1670s. This artistic work was as a product of one of the greatest Spanish artist called Murillo. These artistic works were very common in Seville where Murillo based his activities. Murillo was known for his artistic work that was related to religion. In addition, he did artistic work that involved women and children. Generally, Murillos’ work demonstrated the things that were happening at the period when he was alive. He drew and painted beautiful girls and beggars who were usually seen at the streets.
‘The paintings by Murillo were based on the appearance of his wife, and a child. In his paintings, Murillo adopted realist approach whereby the activities of the time influenced greatly his paintings.’1 His paintings continued to develop as his career developed also. He then adopted the polished style that was suitable for the aristocratic leadership style and the religious activities that were present during the time due to the presence of Roman Catholic in the region.
Murillo started using rich colors in his models and his paintings started to appear very soft. ‘This is after his tour in Madrid where he witnessed similar pictures in the royal families. Murillo generally specialized in the themes virgin and child and Immaculate Conception in his artistic works.’1 Murillo is known as the person who started the academy of art. Murillo also had paintings showing Jesus on the cross. His work was imitated by other people in the region and this made his work very famous even after his death.
1.Bodkin, Thomas.( 1949. The Virgin and Child. New York: Pitman Pub. Corp.)
2.Smith, Robert H. (2000. Apocalypse: a commentary on Revelation in words and images. Collegeville, Minn: Liturgical Press.)
The child in his paintings represented the responsibility of care. The child needed care form the mother. On the other hand, the virgin was looking at the child as if it belongs to her. She has responsibility of caring the child as if it is hers. He engaged in oiled painting on the pictures he drew.
The drawings by Murillo were painted using dark brown ink. However, the color ranged from light brown to gray. This made the paintings appear beautiful. Red color was then used to paint the face of the virgin and the child’s body. Writing was then put at the right upper part of the drawing. ‘This was the name of the person who had drawn the picture, ‘Murillo.’ The drawing of the virgin and the child represented the tradition that the child and the virgin were the people who were to inherit the tradition that was initiated by Raphael.’2
The virgin and the child represented the beautiful women and children who were in the real world at the time. They also represented the love that was there between the women and children. The drawing usually was five feet and above. In the religious arena, it represented Jesus Christ who left her mother to help save the people. An example of a painting showing the virgin and the child is shown below.
Carlo adopted personal style in his paintings. His painting activities were common in 1450s. In his painting activities, he used tempera to paint his work. His main paintings were altarpiece and a drawing showing Jesus, Saint John, the virgin and Mary Magdalene. These pictures were found mostly in churches. Carlo in addition used backgrounds that were verdant landscapes. He also used flowers and fruits to decorate the pictures that he painted.
1. Bodkin, Thomas. 1949. (The Virgin and Child. New York: Pitman Pub. Corp.)
2.Bottom of Form
Smith, Robert H. 2000. (Apocalypse: a commentary on Revelation in words and images. Collegeville, Minn: Liturgical Press.)
The paintings by Carlo did not appear to be soft but seemed to have contours. The quality of his paintings was linear Umbrian. The paintings were also decorated using jewels. The paintings by Carlo were only religious in nature. The pictures mostly consisted of Madonna and a child and an altarpiece of the older fashion. ‘The pictures were largely showing the suffering of Jesus Christ.’4 They were showing the wounds that were present in the body of Jesus. The aim of the artistic work was to meet the needs of the people spiritually. His work is not very common since many people did not copy his work after his death. However, the pictures of Madonna, the child and saints are found in some churches.
The drawings generally represented the love that Jesus had for mankind. At the background, there were fruits such as apples that represented the sins and evil things that human beings do. On the same background of the picture, fruits such as cucumber represented the redemption that Jesus brought through suffering and death at the cross. His drawings also were showing the tears of the mourners and the drops of Jesus’ blood after death. The painting below shows one of the paintings by Carlo. ‘The paintings by Carlo were made on wood. The sizes of the paintings were 192 by196 cm.’3
1.Bodkin, Thomas.( 1949. The Virgin and Child. New York: Pitman Pub. Corp.)
2.Smith, Robert H. (2000. Apocalypse: a commentary on Revelation in words and images. Collegeville, Minn: Liturgical Press.)
Generally, different people interpreted the artistic work by Carlo differently. The non Christians say that the painting shows how the mothers should be responsible to their children. The paintings show a woman trying to breastfeed a child who is looking at the people around him. In Christian arena, the work represents Jesus who was not so much concerned about His mother who was trying to feed Him. Instead, he was looking at the people who He had come to save from the sins.
The paintings by both Carlo and Murillo had several similarities and differences. ‘The paintings were similar in that they had spiritual meanings. That is why they were found in churches.’2 Both of them represented the love of Jesus Christ to the people. How Jesus left his mother to save the world.
The paintings were representing a culture in society that believed in religion. The paintings demonstrate the faith in Jesus Christ who was born by a virgin. Jesus came to the earth, suffered and died to save the sinners. The pictures demonstrated the love of Jesus to the people.
The paintings were similar also in that the pictures consisted of a woman and a child. The difference however arises due to the fact that the painting by Murillo was showing a virgin and a child while the painting by Carlo represented Madonna and a child.
3. Benn, Melissa. 1998. Madonna and child: towards a new politics of motherhood. London: Jonathan Cape.
4. Drummey, Wm. W. 1954. Madonna and Child. Boston: [s.n.].
Another difference between the drawings is that the drawing showing the virgin and the child was painted such that it appeared to be smooth. On the other hand, the drawing showing Madonna and child appeared to be rough. The two artists applied different levels of smoothness in their painting.
The drawings of the virgin and the child had nothing else in the background except the name of the artist who was Murillo. There were no hidden meanings on the painting on the background.’ On the other hand, the drawing showing Madonna and the child had a background with fruits such as apples and cucumber.’4 There was a hidden meaning for the fruits. The apples represented the sins that the human beings were committing. On the other hand, the cucumber represented the salvation that was brought by Jesus through his death at the cross.
Another difference is the style that was adopted by the two artists in their drawings. Murillo adopted the polished style in his paintings whereas Carlo adopted the personality style in her paintings. The paintings by Murillo were adopted by other artists even after his death. Therefore similar paintings were drawn even after his death. However, the paintings by Carlo were not liked by many people. Her paintings were not continued after her death.
‘The two paintings were very common paintings in 15th and 16th century. Christianity greatly influenced these paintings’3. At this period, the Christians were concerned on the birth, teachings and crucifixion of Jesus. This event was clear in their minds since the religion had reached the region at the time. Catholic was one of the religion’s that was common during the time. The priests at the time also preached about the saints who lived at the time of Jesus such as Saint John. This is why the paintings of either virgin and child or Madonna and child were usually accompanied by a picture of one of the saints.
The artistic work of the individuals at the time was generally influenced by religion. These pictures were used to educate the Christians of the time about the mission and suffering of Jesus in the journey of saving the sinful human beings.
1.Bodkin, Thomas.( 1949. The Virgin and Child. New York: Pitman Pub. Corp.)
2.Smith, Robert H. (2000. Apocalypse: a commentary on Revelation in words and images. Collegeville, Minn: Liturgical Press.)
3. Bottom of Form
3.Benn, Melissa. (1998. Madonna and child: towards a new politics of motherhood. London: Jonathan Cape.)
4.Drummey, Wm. W. (1954. Madonna and Child. Boston: [s.n.]
Work cited
Top of Form
Bodkin, Thomas. 1949. The Virgin and Child. New York: Pitman Pub. Corp.
Bottom of Form
Smith, Robert H. 2000. Apocalypse: a commentary on Revelation in words and images. Collegeville, Minn: Liturgical Press.
Benn, Melissa. 1998. Madonna and child: towards a new politics of motherhood. London: Jonathan Cape.
Drummey, Wm. W. 1954. Madonna and Child. Boston: [s.n.].
Virgin and child
Bodkin, Thomas. (1949. The Virgin and Child. New York: Pitman Pub. Corp.)
Madonna and child
Drummey, Wm. W. 1954. Madonna and Child. Boston: [s.n.].
