Who served as the prototype of the Sistine Madonna Raphael? Automatic translate

As we know from history, religion has very often imposed restrictions on art. In Catholicism, painting of a religious nature was allowed; in Orthodoxy, icon painting was recognized as canon, with even stricter limits.

The starting point for the image of the Virgin Mary in Catholic art was usually the appearance of some woman. “The Sistine Madonna” of the celebrated Raphael, one of the titans of the Renaissance, was no exception. In the features of her face one recognizes not the image of the Virgin Mary, but rather the Margherita Lucci depicted in this great creation of the master. In this image one can see the complete absence of conventional canons - Our Lady has a simple pose, figure, face, clothes, and no shoes. If you look closely, it seems that depicted next to Pope Sixtus II and St. Barbara dressed much better than her. The Sistine Madonna has no royal wreath and is not seated on a throne.

This work by the great Raphael created a very great controversy among churchmen, some seeing in it something divine, some heretical. Despite the undoubtedly great artistic value of the canvas, such a depiction of the Virgin Mary, from the point of view of Catholicism, was sinful.

About Margaret Lucchi we know very little, and those “facts”, which have reached our days, are more like fiction than truth. She was born in Siena to a baker’s family who later moved to Rome. It was in Rome that Raphael met Margherita. She agreed to pose for the master’s fresco “Cupid and Psyche”. Raphael and Margarita fell in love with each other, but Margarita’s father was strongly opposed to the relationship. According to unconfirmed reports, Raphael bought Marguerite from her father for 3,000 gold coins.

The lovers lived together for 6 years (according to other sources - 12). Marguerite was his model and accompanied Raphael on all his trips. It was her appearance served as a prototype of Raphael’s Madonnas and mythical heroines. According to contemporaries, Raphael did not part with Marguerite until his death.

The opinions of scholars studying the Renaissance are divided. Some consider Marguerite a faithful wife and constant companion of the great master, while others believe that she was not faithful to Raphael and cheated on him with students and customers. Also remains a mystery the fate of Marguerite after Raphael’s death. According to some sources - she became a courtesan, according to others - she was tonsured as a nun.

But whatever her fate, her image, captured in Raphael’s paintings, will delight generations to come.

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