Virgin and Child Enthroned
‘Virgin and Child Enthroned’ is a famous altarpiece also known as the Ogissanti Madonna. Giotto painted the altarpiece for the church of Ogissanti in Florence. The altarpiece is remarkable because Giotto had more understanding of perception, compared to Cimabue, his mentor. This essay will discuss why the ‘Virgin and Child Enthroned painting should be included as a work of art in the Art history textbook.
The Ogissanti Madonna painting by Giotto was the first artist to depict three-dimensional figures in western European art (Firenze). Therefore, the picture is famous because it is the first painting to represent three-dimensional characters. Thus, it is essential for other artists to know and understand the father of three-dimensional paintings as well as the first three-dimensional painting.
Furthermore, the painting by Giotto focuses more on the emotions and perception compared to pictures by his predecessors. Cimabue was the mentor of Giotto, and he too had a painting called Madonna Enthroned. In his technique, Cimabue used Byzantine style in the use of patterns and stiff body forms and faces (KIDDPANTHER). The paintings of Cimabue portray the essential features on a larger scale while the less important ones are on a smaller size. The two-dimensional figures do not evoke any emotional involvement with the viewer. However, when Giotto created his Madonna Enthroned twenty years later, his work depicted robust and sensitive content. The surrounding figures of Madonna are glazing directly at the center figure rather than glazing aside or straight off the painting as Cimabue did on his work. Both works of Giotto and Cimabue should be featured in the book to show how different the two pictures are in terms of emotions and naturalism. It is vital to highlight the Ogisannti Madonna in the Art history textbook since it is the first painting to depict emotions and naturalism.
Also, the ‘Virgin and Child Enthroned’ has rich historical content. The altarpiece was painted at a time when Italy was dominated by several large cities each warring with each other. Since bankers were very successful at that time, huge donations were made to the church. The enormous amounts of monetary support donated in the church saw that religious artworks got commissioned. Those who did not give money to the church donated artwork. Hence, due to the rich non-artistic context surrounding the Ogissanti Madonna, the painting should be placed in the Art history textbook.
Without Giotto, the cultural, philosophical and artistic movement called the Renaissance would never have been born (Ufizzi). The Renaissance is a period in European history when there was a revival of European art and literature under the influence of classical models. The city of Florence is identified as the first home of the Renaissance. The Renaissance period brought about the revival of interest in Greek and Roman literature and art. People revived the culture by adding their ideas. The central concept for the Renaissance was to incorporate humanism in ancient art. As such, Giotto left a remarkable mark in the Renaissance period by painting the Ogissanti Madonna. The painting that was initially done by Cimabue lacked the aspect of human life. Cimabue had used two-dimensional figures where the most critical features looked bigger compared to the least essential elements. However, when Giotto painted the Ogissanti Madonna, he used three-dimensional figures that depicted emotions and naturalism. Therefore, Giotto effectively influenced the Renaissance because of his painting. As such, the ‘Virgin and Child Enthroned’ should be included in the Art history textbook because of the critical role it played in the Renaissance period.
The Madonna Enthroned by Cimabue should also be included in the Art history textbook. Cimabue mentored Giotto into a great artist. It is said that Cimabue natured Giotto and guided him as a young and ambitious artist. Therefore, the painting of Giotto hails directly from Cimabue and his technique. Since Cimabue also had his own ‘Virgin and Child Enthroned’ painting known as Madonna Enthroned, it should be featured in the Art history textbook to show how Giotto grew under the tutelage of Cimabue into a famous artist. It is important that people also learn about the artist who mentored Giotto and inspired his ‘Virgin and Child Enthroned’ painting.
Furthermore, the painting is attractive and shows the earliest forms of art which depicted naturalism. Both the Madonna and the Child appear to be inserted in a real, well-defined space, not floating off in space. Mary is sitting on a throne that seems to have been designed with perspective in mind, conveying the idea of a real environment. Therefore, apart from having a rich historical background, the aesthetic characters of the painting are worth getting featured in the Art history textbook.
In conclusion, the ‘Virgin and Child Enthroned’ painting should get featured in the Art history textbook. Both works by Cimabue and Giotto show the transition from the two-dimensional era of painting into the three-dimensional technique. Also, the painting has a rich historical background which is the right fit for the history textbook.
Works Cited
CIMABUE AND GIOTTO: MADONNA ENTHRONED. 2017. 23 April 2019 https://arthistorybuff.art/2017/02/01/cimabue-vs-giotto-madonna-enthroned/
Firenze. Giotto Di Bondone. 23 April 2019 http://www.travelingintuscany.com/art/giotto/ognissantimadonna.htm
VISIT UFIZZI. Visit Ufizzi. 2018. 23 April 2019 < https://www.visituffizi.org/artworks/the-ognissanti-madonna-by-giotto/ >.