Artwork
Madonna with St. Francis
Madonna with St. Francis is an oil painting by the High Renaissance artist Correggio. It dates from 1514 and is held in the collection of the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden. Madonna with St.
About this work
Overview
Madonna with St. Francis is a painting created by Correggio between 1514 and 1515, utilizing oil paint. It is currently housed in the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister in Dresden, Germany.
Subject & Meaning
Supporting figures include Anthony of Padua, Catherine of Alexandria, and John the Baptist, with a grisaille image of Moses on the throne's base.
The painting depicts the Madonna and Child enthroned, with St. Francis of Assisi prostrate before them, displaying the stigmata. The scene emphasizes the Madonna's intercession, a theme promoted by the Franciscans following the 1473 definition of the Immaculate Conception. Supporting figures include Anthony of Padua, Catherine of Alexandria, and John the Baptist, with a grisaille image of Moses on the throne's base.
Technique & Style
Correggio employs chiaroscuro to achieve a three-dimensional effect, with strategic lighting accentuating the figures. The composition features a soft, cloudy background with angelic elements, contrasting with the detailed, carved throne and its red platform. The artist's signature appears on Catherine of Alexandria's wheel.
History & Provenance
Created in 1514-1515, the painting's early history is not detailed here, but it is known to be part of the collection at the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister in Dresden, Germany, indicating its eventual acquisition by this institution.
Context
The work reflects the theological climate post-1473, when the Immaculate Conception dogma influenced Franciscan promotion of the Madonna's intercessory role. The inclusion of specific saints aligns with this religious context.
Legacy
While the painting's direct influence or broader impact on art history is not specified in the provided details, its preservation in a major gallery suggests recognition of its artistic and historical value.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Antonio Allegri da Correggio (August 1489 – 5 March 1534), usually known as just Correggio (, also UK: , US: , Italian: ), was an Italian Renaissance painter who was the foremost painter of the Parma school of the High…
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