Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-24

HHAB die ages the Madonna was
V " the most popular subject
This was especially true Of
that supremely great school that -four
ished during the Italian renaissance
period. In earlier Christian art the Vir-
gin did not so largely figure. 1t was
only with the council Of Ephesus and
its glorification of Mary as the moth
er of God" and the development of the
doctrine of the imma culate conception
mot only as to the birth Of Jesus, but
as to that of Mary herself-that the
ascendancy Of the Virgin both in the
church and in church art was estab-
lished.
1t was not till the wonderful renais-
sance era in Italy, the golden age of
art, however, that the Madonna be-
came the favorite theme Of painters.
The vogue started with Fra Angelica,
Fra Bartolommeo and others of the
first painters of the era and reached
its height under Raphael. The three
great figures of the renaissance period
in art were Raphael himself, Michel
angelo and Leonardo da Vinci. Angelo
painted u few Madonnas, some of them
unfinished, but they do not rank with
most of his work. Da Vinci has one or
two Madonnas that are up to his other
great paintings. But 1t was Raphael of
angelic face and character; Raphael,
the prince of painters of all ages, whose
Madonnas. both in number and quality,
Outrank those of any other painter. an
cient or modern.
Raphaers "Sistine Madonna" is not
only his own masterpiece, but by uni
versal consent ranks as the greatest
painting in the world. Only less IA
nous than this is his Madonna Of
the Chair" while his La Jardiniere,"
madonna of the Finger" and many
more are celebrated.
Raphael SanZiO or Santi was born
in 14S3 and died of a fever at Rome
when thirty seven. He was the son
of a painter and studied at one time
under Perugino. His first work to
become famous was The Coronation
of the Virgin" which appeared in 1893
THE Marriage of the Virgin" was
painted the next year. shortly after
Q
ence, where most Of his MadonRas
were finished. His fame had now be-
come 50 great that he was called to
Rome to decorate the Vatican. 1t was
! not till toward the end of his life that
I Raphael developed his own style and
did his greatest work, the 'Sistlne
! Madonna" being his last great paint
/ Ing He was also an architect and
was appointed the chief architect of
st. Peters in Rome.
/ Another Madonna, n reproduction of
/ which is here shown, Is q detail of the
painting by Hans Holbein the young
er, known as the Madonna of the
Meyer Family" 1t represents the Vlr-
I gin and the child Jesus being worship
ed by Burgomaster Meyer, his two
wives lone deceased) and some of his
children. Just why Burgomaster Mey-
er, his two wives and children should
be immortalized in this holy company
is not apparent The burgomaster
paid for the picture. Members of the
family are omitted in the reproduction.
There were two Hans Holbeins, IA
Their and son, both painters. The
younger was practically a contempt
rary of Raphael. being born in Bavaria
In 1897. One Of his best known por-
traits is that of Erasmus. Several Of
his religious pictures are also cele-
brated.
The painting of the Madonna and
Child by c. Won Bcdenhausen. here
shown. Is more modern.