OCR Text |
Show Hl jHE F1RST representations of Christ In art were of carved wood; then camo tuo Hij M representations In mosaics, and finally during tho thirteenth, fourteenth and Hft il fifteenth century thoro was a perfect fiood of Christ Child pictures painted by HUj artists of the various countries. As each learned from' the other there Is a B similarity in the conceptions of His appearance. In Italy the old masters wore especially K prolific In their work and in churches, convents and other religious placos paintings covered the walls. Later many of these were gathered Into museums where tho wholo . world may view these masterpieces of art and ponder on tho humble origin cf Him, Hi who came to save the world. Copies of some of the most beautiful and famous of theso Ujt pictures are shown on this page. Famous Paintings of the Prince of Peace In Infancy Raphael ' The Madonna Granduca Is In many respects the most perfect and lovable of all tho pictures of the nativity. It simply shows us tho Virgin and the Divine Child. It Js not a largo plcturo and hangs among the many paintings In the'- Plttl Palace, yet Is easily found. Prior to its being hung here It belonged to tho Grand Duke of Tuscany, from whom it takes its name, who purchased it In 1750 Tho ground of this painting is dark green, with a half length picture of tho Virgin n soft relief. Her faco Is pensive and exquisitely touched with the modest beauty of puro motherhood. Her soft hazel eyes are bent with contented gazo upon the Child, who sits lightly upon her hand pressing his chcok lovingly against her shoulder and turning to look out with a gentle and almost szd gazo upon the world ho came to sa.se. Thoro Js a thoughtfulncss in His face and His eyes are full of grace and truth. On tho whalo it is ono of tho most beautiful productions of tho groat master painter Raphael, who lived from 1483 until 1520. An Italian and the son of a painter lio inherited his art and learned easily from the groat masters of his day. His history Is a long, ono for ho travelled a groat deal and paintyl varidtis pictures for different countries. Ills Madonnas, however, were hlo best work, and tho figures ho created . were ideal types of womanhood. These pictures happily have been saved from the ravages of the present war. Morotto ' Orio particularly beautiful representation of the Christ Child by an' Italian artist Is found In the Mnseum at Bonn. Germany, one of the Rhine cities, which was bombed by the Allies, but tho building containing this picture was untouched. This picture ia by Morelto, whoso, real name was Alossandro Bonvlnclo. He was born in Brescia In 149S, whero ho obtained an early art educator., and later his work was influenced by the great Titian. Ho painted many frescoes and several large canvasses, among thom the Mother and Child of the Bonn Gallery. Ho was endowed with a wonderful genius for color harmony and a fine play of light. Hs religious paintings all show a reverent feeling, especially this particular canvass which shows tho Madonna holding tho Child, who seems to bo in tho act of gathering fruit. Sho has the face of a high class Italian woman, and wears tho traditional blue robe. Her bodice is dark red, while a light tan shawl covers her shoulders. Tho Child, a chubby baby, with golden hair, is held up, both tho Madonna's hands showing. The fingers are, perhaps, a trifle loo long, but are boautlfully formed. Tho coloring Is rich with the same silvery tone which characterizes all the works of this great master. Moretto died in Brescia. In 1554. Dolcl Tho exquisite canvas of the Mother and Child by Carlo Dolcl, a Florentine painter of religious scenes, hangs In tho national gallery at Rome, and Is' one of tho famous paintings of that great gallery. He seems to havo been born to art, for at the age of 14 ho painted a portrait of himself which surprised tho older artists. Tho ono of tho Madonna and Child Is not large, but the great beauty of the face of tho Virgin, and natural position of tho Child at once rail-attention to it. The coloring of tho Mother's clothing is much the samo as used bvMoreUofc although it was painted nearly two centuries later. The Child Is reposlngon .a1 cushion and seems to have 'Just awakened from a sleep. The Virgin Is holdlngjaii end 'oftho covering in hor right hand, whllo her left Is lifted In an attitude of atte'mpting to quiet the Child's restlossness. The Child Is a beautifully formed chubby baby with light'' brown hair. Tho whole make-up of tho plcturo Is line, especially the delicate halo which encircles the head of the Mother. Dolcl, tho artist, was born in 1616, and died at the age of seventy. Andrea del Sarto Two of the pictures shown arc the work of that master painter, Andrea del Sarto, who was the greatest colorist of the Renaissance school. Ho was tho son of a tailor (Sarto), whenco tho name. He was born In 14S7. He showod a talent for. painting at an early age, and was placod under tho tuition of Pleno dc Coslmo. Later ho met other great painters, among them Fra Bartolommco, from whom ho received several lessons. His Holy Family, which hangs In the Plttl Palace at Florence, Is peculiar from the fact that he has painted the Mothor as unusually youthful and with, perhaps, a stronger faco than shown In most pictures. Sho wears tho Madonna dress of dark red with a dull blue cloak which has fallen to the ground. A delicate gray scarf is thrown carelessly over her shoulders. Tho Child with a face full of animation sits astrldo hor lap listening listen-ing to the voice of St. John being held by SL Anne in the background. The wrinkled worn face of the latter is well brought out in the perfect drawing and coloring. In this plcturo wo find the Child with curly brown hair. Tho Mother and Child sometimes called the Madonna of the harpies, named from, tho harpies who stand at her side, Is tho other del Sarto picture shown. The main coloring of this plcturo is a deep rod with brown background. The Virgin is seated upon a pedestal, while tho curly brown-haired Child clings to her In a playful mood. The Virgin has a faco of exquisite tenderness, full of mother love. Sho Is olasplng a book In ono hand and the right holds tho Child. There Is the bluo robe, dark red dress and a gray, head covering. The face of tho Child Is that of a happy ibaby of about one year old. This painting Is regarded as ono of del Sarto's best and hangs In the Uflizo In Florence. The artist died of the nlacrue in 1531. , Andrea Solnrlo " Andrea Solarro. a Milanese painter of tho High Renaissance period, painted perhaps the saddest looking Madonna of all tho pictures. He was born In 1 4 CO and died In 1515. Ho studied with dl Vlncl and assisted the old master with some of his work. I-IIr. portraits of religious characters display great strength. In this picture St. Josoph and St. Jcromo are shown as well as tho Mother and Child. At the top are two angels, which bear a strong resemblance to .those of Raphael's In the Slstlne Madonna and have particularly sweet faces. The Virgin wlthdowncast eyes -sits in tho center. Sho wears a rich bluo robe which covers her ehllro figure. Joseph, well drawn, is at tho loft, while St. Jerome, In the attitude of adoring the Child, Is at her right. The Child. 'perfectly nude, sits upon her lai. . . ' ' Corregglo , V ' . . Corregglo, the master painter or the Emlljan .school," Is 4ono: of the few artists who have portrayed the Virgin as a Jewess, although this, of course, iVcorrec't, 'and ono . , w.' . --- of his famous Madonnas Is here shown. The Virgin is here seen looking with Adora jf at tho Child seated in hor lap. The clear cut nose and mouth of tho Jew,sh Jftti ?ej delicately brought out, as well as tho dark eyes fixed upon tho Child. According aiyl connolseurs tho Virgin's hands are much too large and the curly-haired child ac tQl ugly, but the coloring of the plcturo Is marvelously beautiful. The llffhts an J fjj perspective lend" a raro beauty to it. .iJuaiibViI V Corregglo was born in 14 94 and died in 1534. He possessed a certain lndl Jcn iaI which seems stamped on all of his works. Nearly 'every, gallery InEuropo is Fa his work. , w.t. -- ..--- - i'nV" -. - ' IP |