Madonna with a rosary, Bartolome Esteban Murillo – description of the painting

Description of the picture:

Madonna with the rosary – Bartolome Esteban Murillo. 1650-1655. Canvas, oil. 100 sixty four x 100 10 cm

   This picture is a catchy example of how a painter “inscribed” anachronism in a biblical plot. The Madonna is depicted on the canvas with the rosary of the rosary (rosary) – a common attribute of church faith. At the time of the artist, such rosary, also closely associated prayer, were widely distributed and were considered an obligatory attribute of a truly believing Spaniard and Spanish.

   The figures of the Madonna with the baby Jesus in her arms are depicted on the black, rather gloomy background of the enclosed space, because of which the baby’s body and the warm light skin of the lady seem to simply gaping with a special inner light. Virgin Mary sits on a bulky bench, clutching the bare body of a baby to herself. Both the mother and the offspring have stern, unsmiling faces, as if they both foresee the future sadness, grief and torment that will fall upon their family.

   In this picture, the inherent sense of color and the ability to masterfully convey the texture of the fabric were fully manifested. The draperies of the outfit of the Virgin Mary are so expressive that one cannot look away from them. A blue silky wrap is thrown on the rusty-red fabric of the main dress, and the finest creamy veil around the neck of the Virgin echoes her white, porcelain skin. Both mother and child, not taking their eyes off, look directly at the viewer, practically penetrating the soul with their colorful dark eyes hidden in their sadness."