FREE ESSAY ON COMPARISON: MADONNA AND CHILD / ANGELS

COMPARISON: MADONNA AND CHILD / ANGELS

The painting called Madonna and Child with Saint Francis and Dominic and Angels by Giulio
Cesare Procaccini is one of many paintings labeled masterpiece. This painting contains
brilliant brushwork and messages that are indirect.
This painting was done in Milan Italy any where from 1574-1625. It is 101 1/8 x 56 3/8
in. (256.9 x 143.2 cm) and painted on canvas with oil. In the picture all the faces are
looking at the child that is held by Mary. Saint Francis is dressed in a long cloak with
a hood in one hand he hold a wooden cross and in the other hand an apple that he giving
to the virgin mother. Saint Dominic is on the other side of Mary who is elevated above
everyone else. Saint Dominic seems to be falling backward in awe of Mary. There are
angels all around with roses in a vase. One angel is playing the guitar the others are
just hanging around Mary. The Christ child is on Mary's lap he looks straight out.
Giulio Cesare Procaccini shows the figures as full and having realistic mass. He gives
the illusion of layering that one person is in front of the other. The artist leaves no
space between figures; every spot is filled with a body or object. There is an emphasis
on the Christ child his eyes look directly at you through this portrait. There is a sense
of rhythm that everyone in the painting is just flows around Mary. There is balance in
figures and the proportion is exact. There seems to be a unity that everyone hovered
around the virgin to watch her. The emphasis on the child gives a focus point to help tie
up the picture together. The tight composition and the perfect brushstroke aids to make
this painting perfect. In this portrait there is no sense of gravity Mary and the angels
are in the air with nothing holding them down. Saint Francis and Saint Dominic are the
only ones who are standing and the look realistic. 
Giulio Cesare Procaccini's narrative is trying to say that Saint Francis is man and is
giving Mary an apple. That show that man is handing over himself and everything he has to
Christianity. He is showing his love for Mary and giving all he has to her. Then Saint
Dominic is falling backwards when he sees Mary he almost shows surprise when he sees her
and falls back. I believe that this is showing that he is almost bowing down to her that
he falls from her excellently. The flowers are a gift for the women that means she in
praise worthy for she will rule everyone until her son is born. The angles appear that
they are used to Mary and that they must follow her around a lot. They appear calm and
seem to have great love for the virgin. Saint Dominic and Saint Francis do not appear
that they are used to Mary and baby Christ's presence. The artist is trying to say that
everyone should hold great respect for Mary and Christ. That you should worship them and
give all you have to them. Giving all you have to them that Saint Francis shows by giving
Mary the apple shows that he trusts her and that Christ and Mary will lead him down the
right path. The viewpoint that Giulio Cesare Procaccini takes is that Christianity is the
only way to go and it is a religion you can put all of your trust into. 
At first when I had looked at the picture I thought it was unclear and I really did not
like it. I looked like a mess of characters going their own way. But as I looked into the
dark shadows and tried to put the pieces together and make sense of it I was able to tell
that this portrait is giving me a clear message. This work of art by Giulio Cesare
Procaccini tells me to put my faith in Christ and to follow only him. He is trying to say
that happiness relies on Christ and only Christ. Giulio Cesare Procaccini puts a very
strong message into this painting and it has affected me to think about my faith in God.
It forces me to think about if I am being a good catholic and it also makes me think
about if I really just in our Lord. If I could give everything I have to Christ just like
how Saint Francis gives what he has to Mary the virgin mother. Saint Dominic shows that
Christ is great and the Catholics should praise him. That also makes me refer to myself
and if I am praying enough and do I attend church enough.