Madonna and Child Bartolome Esteban Murillo (1618-1682)

Description of the painting "Madonna" by Bartolomeo Murillo

The paintings of this artist were universally admired and astonished by his contemporaries, for his paintings were distinguished not only by their bold images, but also by the beauty of the lines and subjects chosen. Having studied in a fairly short period of time, he began to paint on commission. And after a short time his paintings appeared in many homes and churches. Murillo often painted the Madonna, her face in many paintings was similar to others according to the canons. But the eyes in each painting were different. For customers of paintings it was not important, but the physiognomy of each painted Madonna changed quite strongly. Therefore, each of his paintings was radically different from the rest, while respecting the canons and general similarity.

In this painting, the Madonna is depicted seated on a pew or similar dark elevation. Nothing else can be seen behind the central characters; everything is painted dark brown. A warm glow is clearly visible around the baby’s head, and his and the Madonna’s faces are peaceful, the calm gaze straight ahead creates the illusion that they are looking directly at the viewer. The entire painting is painted in warm colors. The heroine’s dark hair is tucked under a shawl or similar headdress.

She is dressed in the traditional attire for this image: a pale red dress, and a blue cloak or plaid with bright red lining is thrown over her legs. The child in her arms is naked, standing on her lap and leaning on the Mother of God with her right hand. The woman supports him, a white sheet, in which she had recently wrapped her baby, flowing freely on her arm.