The plague, the Hundred Years' War, and the instability in the Catholic Church that rocked everyone's faith occurred in the 14th century, a time of major calamity. It appears that throughout this time, which is referred to as the Renaissance period, Europeans wanted a new beginning and a cultural revival. It is significant to remember that Italy, where the culture was surrounded by the remains of a once great empire, was where the Renaissance first began. As a result, the Italians revived old Greek and Roman writings, philosophy, art, and architecture (Adams 55).
Beginning of the Renaissance
Additionally, the Italians began to see the ancient times as a golden times that contained the responses to reviving and energizing their communities. Conversely, the humanistic education founded on ethics, liberal arts, and rhetoric was eradicated, and individuals started to celebrate the tremendous potential, mind, power, and beauty. People during that time thought and assumed that they in a position to experience God directly and thus needed to have an emotional and personal relationship. Therefore, these fresh cultural engagements gave stimulation and inspiration to the artists, and the Italy's commerce and trade with Asia and Europe generated riches, which established a huge opportunity for art.New Cultural Engagements
It is apparent that during the Renaissance period, artists were permitted greater elasticity and flexibility in what they were to generate, which they took advantage of through discovering new techniques and themes. Here is one of the exemplary examples of the Renaissance artwork.Madonna in the Meadow
The painting of the Madonna in the Meadow was painted and executed by Raphael while he was in Florence. The scenes of the painting depict and illustrate Virgin Mary, John the Baptist, and Jesus Christ in a profoundly tender, tranquil, and serene moment "against a landscape backdrop that places the scene in a Tuscan setting (Brown 15)." Additionally, the figures in the painting are arranged and organized in a pyramidal composition. It is evident that Raphael picked this arrangement from one of his favorite cartoon known as Leonardo, which depicted St. Anne, Virgin Mary, and their children that were situated in one of the churches in Florence. Besides Raphael imitated and noticed the use of subtle chiaroscuro by Leonardo to form and model the figures that they may appear and create an actual space within the painting. Conversely, Raphael used a lighter color palette, and this differed with Leonardo.Artistic Techniques Used
It is evident from the painting that Raphael used aerial perspective to show how the scenery and the landscape are far away from the observer. In addition, as the audience looks at the painting, they immediately recognize and identify how the peaceful and restful the setting is. The scenery and the landscape in the background are filled with elegant, polished, and graceful curves, which are connected to the figures through Madonna's shoulders, and neckline that is curved softly.Tranquility in the Painting
In conclusion, both the subject matter and the physical setting of the painting are worth and pleasant to look at. The painting does not depict the mysterious tones of Leonardo, pain, or struggles. The only anxious and uneasy sign in the painting is the Christ child snatching the cross from John the Baptist, which is a means of predicting the future of the Jesus. The kind of tranquility, harmony, and peacefulness in the painting made the Renaissance patrons to esteem and value it, which made Raphael to be asked to paint a wall painting for the pope at the Vatican in Rome.Works Cited
Adams, Laurie Schneider. Italian Renaissance Art. West view Press, 2001.
Brown, David Alan. “Raphael’s” Small Cowper Madonna” and” Madonna of the Meadow”: Their Technique and Leonardo Sources.” Artibus et Historiae (1983): 9-26.
