Madonna in Art
Images of Virgin Mary and Child Jesus from the collection of Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad, India.
Who is Madonna?
‘Christianity’ is one of the world's largest religions. It is based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. Who then is Madonna? Madonna is none other than Mother of Jesus also called Virgin Mary. She is called as Madonna in many artistic depictions. According to Christian belief, Mary is a Galilean Jewish woman from Nazareth and was chosen by God to bear his only son, Jesus. The Bible says that Mary was a virgin, impregnated not by her betrothed, Joseph, but by the Holy Spirit.
Madonna in art history
Throughout art history, Madonna has been depicted in many ways. She is usually with infant Jesus, but there are instances in which she is alone, in prayer or giving a blessing.
The image of Madonna
The Madonna image is an important icon in both Catholic and Orthodox churches. The depictions of ‘Madonna with Child’ is quite prevalent. A title that denotes a visual representation of the Virgin Mary and her infant son, Jesus.
History of the Icon
The earliest works are found in the Catacombs of Priscilla in Rome, a quarry used for Christian burials of the 2nd and 3rd centuries. Madonna is also known as Theokotos (God bearer) in the Eastern Orthodox context and the imagery started in the 5th century.
History of the Icon
The iconography developed further in the 6th to 8th century and became very important during 12th to 14th centuries in both Latin and eastern Orthodox spheres. The 15th and 16th century saw Italian painters paint historical subjects, portraits and mythology. They show the Madonna enthroned, even wearing a Byzantine pearl encrusted crown with pendants and the child in her lap. Byzantine art developed a great number of Madonna types and usually pictured prominently on the eastern wall of Byzantine churches below the image of Christ.
History of the Icon
From the 15th century along with Madonna and a baby, John the Baptist is shown looking on. This type of image is called Madonna della seggiola. There are many images of Madonna as it was an important subject to Renaissance artists like Raphael, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Titian among others. Representations of the 'Madonna and Child', however, continued to be important in popular art into the 20th century, most following 16th-17th century models.
History of the Icon
The 'Madonna and Child' did not only appear in Western art; but also served as a muse in Mughal painting, an Indo-Islamic art. In the 16th century, Christian subjects were copied by Indian artists from the illustrated Bibles, prints, and paintings that were brought by Europeans traders and missionaries.
The Salar Jung Museum collection
The Salar Jung Museum has many images of Madonna in different media. She is sometimes seen alone and also with her child, baby Jesus. There are copies of Western paintings from Italy, Chinese porcelain figures, ivory painting, Mughal miniature, marble, brass statuettes of Madonna and Child and images even on a type of sword, a kirachi.
Let us take a look at some of these images of this much revered icon in the collection of Salar Jung Museum!
Bust of Madonna (1900/1999)Salar Jung Museum
Bust of Madonna
A veiled Madonna is shown in her calm attitude and with hands in a prayerful stance, in an ornate carved gilt wood frame, a painting from Italy, dated to the 20th century.
Figure of Madonna (1800/1899) by Alb Rose and Vierge D Albert.Salar Jung Museum
Figure of Madonna
Madonna holding aloft the child Jesus, set on a pink marble base and she is in standing posture. She wears a long robe. The child is depicted standing on her shoulder, made in brass, from Venice, Italy, dated to the 19th century.
Figure of Madonna (1800/1899)Salar Jung Museum
Figure of Madonna
Porcelain figure of Madonna with the Child in her arm, painted in green and other colours, from China, dated to the 19th century.
Madonna and Child (1900/1925)Salar Jung Museum
Madonna and Child
‘Raphael Madonna’ holding the child, Jesus. The painting has a sense of calm. The child is smiling. Madonna wears a red dress with a black robe. The original is in Pitti Palace, Florence, Italy, made by Sanzio Raphael in 1505 A.D. This is a copy, from probably the 20th century.
Madonna holding Child (1900/1999)Salar Jung Museum
Madonna holding a Child
Oil painting, in a carved gilt wooden frame, represents Madonna holding a child, baby Jesus, having a halo around his head, from Italy, dated to the 20th century.
Madonna and Child with John (1900/1925)Salar Jung Museum
Madonna and Child with John, the Baptist
Painting in round stunning, decorative gilt wooden frame, Madonna and Child with John, the Baptist. The original was done by Raphael in early 16th century and is in Pitti Palace, Florence, Italy. It is called Madonna della Sedia and also Madonna della Seggiola. Mary is embracing the Child while the young John devoutly watches, from Italy dated to the 20th century.
Madonna with Child (1600/1699)Salar Jung Museum
Madonna with Child
Miniature painting in Mughal style which depicts Madonna seated on carpet with her Child standing in her lap. A book is lying at her right. More books and vases behind her in niches. Stained marble design border on top and bottom, dated to the 17th century.
Madonna and her Child (1800/1899)Salar Jung Museum
Madonna and her Child
Ivory miniature painting in an oval panel, showing Madonna with her Child, from Italy, dated to the 19th century.
Brass bust of Madonna
Brass bust of Madonna with a veil on the head. A sculpture from France, dated to the 19th century.
Kirachi (1800/1899)Salar Jung Museum
Kirachi
A curved fencing sword, called a kirachi, plain blade, on one side, some red semi-precious stones are studded in the side; Jesus on the Cross, Mary and baby Jesus and a church are engraved in gold on one side and on the other side a flower vase, an angel, are engraved in gold. The wooden sheath is covered with black-coloured leather. This sword was specially manufactured in Europe for a Deccan ruler, from Italy, dated to the 19th century.
Madonna seated on a throne (1800/1899)Salar Jung Museum
Madonna on a throne
Carving in high relief depicts Madonna seated on a throne with her Child in her left arm, made from ivory, from Goa, India, dated to the 19th century.
Birth of Christ (1800/1899)Salar Jung Museum
Birth of Christ
Copy of a painting by artist Correggio depicting Madonna adoring the infant Jesus, in a carved gilt wooden frame, representing the birth of Christ, from Italy, dated to the 19th century.
Madonna with Child (1300/1399)Salar Jung Museum
Madonna with Child
Madonna standing on ivory base with horn like projections on sides of the feet, with three winged human heads on the base, on a wooden pedestal. She wears the traditional dress covering her head. The Child Jesus is seen with legs crossed at her waist, a sculpture from England, dated to the 14th century.
Text and Curation : Soma Ghosh
Photography : M. Krishnamurthy and Bahadur Ali
Research Assistance : Dinesh Singh, E. Rajesh and Vinod Kumar.
Special Thanks to Dr. A. Nagender Reddy, Director, Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad, India.
References –
1. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Madonna-religious-art (accessed on 1.10.2022)
2. https://mymodernmet.com/madonna-and-child-art-history/ (accessed on 1.10.2022)
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madonna_(art) / (accessed on 1.10.2022)
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