"Sistine Madonna" - a brilliant work of the hand of the great maestro Raphael

To this day, many mysteries cover the history of the creation of the greatest work of Raphael "Sistine Madonna". Unfortunately, we did not get a single sketch and drawing, not a single document about the time of writing the picture, as if to confirm the version about the divine insight of the maestro. It is said that when the canvas was brought into the throne room of the Dresden residence of the King of Saxony Augustus III, he pushed his throne away from the aisle and exclaimed: "Dear Grand Raphael!"

"Sistine Madonna" - unsurpassed creation of world painting

Neither the sky nor the earth is depicted on the canvas by Raphael. "Sistine Madonna" is deprived of the usual landscape, the whole space between the images is filled with clouds, in which the faces of angels are guessed. Our Lady, in comparison with the past Madonna of Raphael, no longer soars in the air, but as if walking along the clouds to meet us, and the only barrier she has on her way is the pensive angels sitting on the edge of the parapet, propping their faces with plump little hands. Maria with the divine son in her arms seems to want to descend from the heavenly world into our, earthly world. And, it seems, as though she is about to step over the frame and barefoot foot will step onto the cold floor of the gallery, but at that moment she motionlessly freezes. Being our eyes so close and so clearly, it still remains inaccessible.

The Sistine Madonna is thoughtful and sad, motherly, carefully, she keeps the little Jesus. He looks with restraint and humbly into the distance, her eyes are filled with alarm, she is powerless before the inevitable. Now they are still together, one whole, but very soon she will be forced to take her son to life and give it to people. In the depths of her soul, she grieves at the sacrifice she is to bring. Though childishly trusting, the little Jesus clings to his mother, but his gaze is adult enough, meaningful and alarming. She kneels and carefully puts her tiara next to her, Maria is met by Pope Sixtus IV, which is why the work was called "Sistine Madonna". His hand, stretched out to people, symbolizes the true meaning of the picture - the phenomenon of Our Lady to the people. Perhaps anticipating his short life, to the right of Madonna Raphael Portrays exactly Varvara, the one who at the time was credited with the gift of salvation from a sudden and violent death. Her downcast gaze expresses resignation and reverence.

The work of Raphael is the peak of genius and the crown of perfection in the art of the Renaissance

Among the Raphael creations, of course, the best jewel is the "Sistine Madonna". The description, even the most eloquent, will never replace visual contact with this masterpiece of the great artist's brush. According to Goethe, the picture represents a whole world, and even if Raphael did not create anything else in his life, this canvas would be enough to make him immortal. Rafael died young, at 37, taking away from this world the amazing power of his talent. It is even frightening to imagine what genius works humanity lost at that moment.