Cindy's Renaissance Blog on Benois Madonna

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Benois Madonna Leonardo da Vinci
Benois Madonna:Leonardo de Vinci

Created: October 1478 in Florence, Italy

Currently in State Hermitage Museum

My Thoughts: 
When I see this painting, I see the beauty of life. There is a mother who is playing with her child, one of the most purest moments mothers can have in their lives. I love that both the mother and child are content in what they are doing and seem pleased with life, like there is nothing else to worry about. 

About the Painting: 
There is a halo above Mary's head, symbolizing her angelic personality and lifestyle. Mary is not painted to be the most beautiful women, but is made to be looked at and see the kindness and gentleness with how she is acting and grinning. Her clothing matches the looks from the 15th century, making her look modern for her time period. As for the baby, he is very chunky, giving the impression that he eats well and lives a good life. The window in the back is letting light in the room and suggesting that the area around in full of life and gratefulness. This painting is an oil painting, which was commonly used, especially by Leonardo de Vinci. In this, the paint used is mostly 
dark, with the exception of their skin and the window, producing the light that is in the picture. Mary's clothing is painted in dark green and a medium-light blue for her skirt. The contrast of her clothing and the light make the room seem darker then they actually are, but still the illusion of happiness is present despite the dark colors. 

Humanism: 
This art piece shows a great deal of humanism in it. In the painting, the child is representing new life and is curious at what it is going to offer. The mother is there representing a life that has been lived and acting as a guide or teacher for her son. The child has no idea what life will bring him or how to live. He is asking the question "what does is it to be human"(Cartwright). It is the mothers job to show him what being human is like because the child doesn't automatically know that he is human and the way we act instead of the way a wild animal acts. Therefore, this art piece is a great example of humanism and what it means to be human for the baby, and the way the mother will take care of him. 



Sources: 

Vinci, Leonardo de, and Rob Brent. “Leonardo Da VINCI Paints The Benois Madonna.” World History Project, 2021, worldhistoryproject.org/1478/leonardo-da-vinci-paints-the-benois-madonna. 

Vinci, Leonardo de. “Madonna and the Child (the Benois Madonna).” Art Works, 2021, www.hermitagemuseum.org/wps/portal/hermitage/digital-collection/!ut/p/z0/Zc47b4MwGIXhv0IHtrj-jC_Eo-VKVSJRKoaKeokcYqgLsQm4l5_fZKwyHunV0YMNbrEJ9tsPNvkY7HTd70YcaqUEoRr2teZPoOrmlTf65RkIw3ts_gVcKFDQUCbeKmA7dnsolkpXAzazTR_Ihz7i9sufEJWolIiTQnCBCAHJC4oKShFlW2CcEiRLVm5ibzt3jHHcxLTYsM52cSHpOE2uuynvCHfGK8F_Xi5GYdPFkNxvwu1oz349uJDDT1zGNYt9ZpeUA5DHbLY-JB-GNYdCStjieTRHPg0Pf1rFtJs!/. 

Grendler, Paul. “Humanism.” Obo, 27 June 2017, www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780195399301/obo-9780195399301-0002.xml. 

Cartwright, Mark. “Renaissance Humanism.” World History Encyclopedia, World History Encyclopedia, 13 Sept. 2021, www.worldhistory.org/Renaissance_Humanism/. 














Comments

  1. kqwilliamsOctober 3, 2021 at 5:01 PM

    Hi Cindy,
    A very thoughtful post about the painting. Something strange I noticed about your post is if I click the image it takes me to an Amazon search for the painting. This is such a beautiful and almost strange painting. A form of purity in the painting when you look at the child and the mother, Mary. Mary has an almost baby or child-like face showing the purity and innocence of youth in the painting. I like that you note that Mary is playing with her child and it too is innocent and pure with simple joy. I also did a post on humanism, mine was on the ideals of an unadorned ideal form of a man with the statue of David. I like that yours discusses the life of humans in the form of a maternal lens. I like your post great job!

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