Question

As illustrated in your text, identify two ways that Raphael's Madonna of the Meadow is similar to da Vinci's Madonna of the Rocks in style and/or composition, and two ways that it is different.

Answer 1

• Da Vinci has always been interested in perspective, and he effectively used and built upon Masaccio’s use and understanding of perspective and chiaroscuro (the subtle play and contrast of light and dark to create depth) in this painting.
• To Da Vinci, it was also important to depict emotional states. He believes that a good painter “has two chief objectives to paint— man and the intention of his soul.
• In Madonna of the Rocks,Da Vinci organized the three figures of Madonna, Christ Child, and John the Baptist in a pyramidal composition, with Madonna at the top of the pyramid. An angel is also part of the group of figures.
• Da Vinci’s use of chiaroscuro is evident in this painting as the group of figures seem to emerge through the nuances of light and shade from the half-lit cavernous landscape with waterfalls. The figures are united through their gestures of praying, pointing, and blessing
• The melting mood of tenderness which is also enhanced by the caressing light is infused in this painting. By creating such an emotionally compelling and visually unified image, Da Vinci successfully depicted “the intention of his soul.”
• Another well-known painting of Madonna is Raphael’s version, which he named Madonna of the Meadow.
• The figures in Madonna of the Meadows also have Da Vinci’s modeling and slight chiaroscuro. However, unlike Da Vinci, Raphael, who preferred clarity over mystery and obscurity, set his figures in a bright landscape and his figures have lighter tonalities.
• His landscape is reminiscent of Perugino landscapes, with its feathery trees in the middle ground. Thus, Raphael combined different influences to create his own version of Madonna.
  
• Between Raphael’s and Da Vinci’s rendition of the Madonna,Raphael has used more bright colours. There is a huge contrast between the red and the dark blue in Madonna’s garment. Those two colors are also the boldest and brightest in the entire painting, drawing even more attention to Madonna, who is already the largest figure and the figure on top of the pyramid.
• Both paintings have a picturesque atmosphere as the background, but to me, that in Raphael’s painting is brighter and more inviting than that in Da Vinci’s painting. In Raphael’s painting, Madonna seems older and more motherly than the one in Da Vinci’s painting.
• Overall, although Raphael emulated Da Vinci’s pyramidal composition, he rejected Da Vinci’s dusky modeling of the figures and gloominess and mystery in the background and set his own Madonna in a well-lit landscape and imbued her with grace, dignity, and beauty.