The Human Experience

The art work that I selected is Madonna & Child by Sassoferrato (1609-85) Art Style: Italian Baroque. The Catholic church is extremely important in Italy expecially during the Renassiance. Many artists have used the Madonna and child as their subjects in art. In Christianity Jesus is believed to be the savior of the world but Mary and the virgin birth is also a focus. The Immaculate Conception has made Mary a subject of awe. The fact that God would choose to impregnate her with his seed thrust her into the forefront of religion above all women.

The depiction of the Virgin Mary through the Medieval and Renassiance period was important in that it helped to raise the status of women in Western society. The painting exhibits love. A mother’s great love for her child in the painting Jesus is sitting in his mother’s lap, looking comfortable. You can clearly see the love on their faces. Gold and black are used; the color gold which stands for royalty and wealth.

This is a religious art piece. Religion simply means “to tie things together” the painting shows a motherly pleasant looking woman holding and caring for her child. It shows her power by giving birth to him and by caring for the Son of God. I am not saying that I am the Virgin Mary nor that my child is the Son of God but I definitely can relate to the love and adoration she has for her child.

Being a mother of three beautiful children brings so much joy to my life. My middle child was diagnosed with a disability when he was a baby. I love all my children but James is extra special because of his sickness. He was in and out of the hospital he was in ICU he needed blood transfusions. It was the worst experience of my life and I wouldn’t wish this on anyone. I watched him suffer and seen him in pain. I spent many days and nights in the hospital caring for him. There is no greater love that of a mother for her child.

The painting is so powerful in my opinion because it depicter’s mothers as being honorable...