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The appearance of the virgin to St. Bernard

Filippino Lippi • Painting, 1486, 210×195 cm
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About the artwork
Art form: Painting
Subject and objects: Religious scene
Style of art: Renaissance
Technique: Oil
Materials: Wood
Date of creation: 1486
Size: 210×195 cm
Artwork in selections: 5 selections

Description of the artwork «The appearance of the virgin to St. Bernard»

"The appearance of the virgin to Saint Bernard" is one of the best and most famous paintings of Filippino Lippi, apprentice Sandro Sandro Botticelli. and the son of the famous masters of the Quattrocento Filippo Lippi. It was written in 1486 on wood panel for the high altar of the Florentine Church of Badia, where it is today.

Here Filippino Lippi shows himself not only as a gifted colorist (and the flavor has always been considered a "weak point" of the Florentines, for whom the priority was the line, not the color), but also as the inventor of the complex, multifaceted compositions. The evolution of creativity Lippi followed the path of deliberate pereprodannosti image, but "Vision of Notre Dame de St. Bernard" the song could not only ultimately be filled with objects and figures, but also to balance.

Before to pass to consideration of the figural groups in the picture, pay attention to the details of the landscape both natural and architectural. Grass, leaves and small flowers at the feet of the characters, rocks, wooden stand of the Department of the Holy, the buildings and clothes are finely written and detailed. The attitude of the subjects in the paintings of Filippino Lippi the researchers called not only an attentive and "Dutch love".

Who was St. Bernard and why the painting Lippi appeared to him the very blessed virgin?

With the name of a French Saint of the XI-XII centuries, Bernard of Clairvaux linked the origin of special veneration of the virgin Mary, which is observed until now in the Catholic branch of Christianity. For the mystic Bernard goal of human existence lies in the unity of the soul with God, which is carried out precisely through Mary. In the writings and letters of Bernard Mary first became known as the mother of God. In General, if not Bernard – it would not be the Catholic cult of the virgin spread to all of Western Europe and the seizure of South America, it is not surprising that Bernard was to portray "in" the mother of God.

Limit the development of this plot can be seen the picture of the Spaniard Alonso Cano: kneeling Bernard prays before the statue of the virgin, which comes to life and releases him in the mouth with a jet of milk from her breast. Well, the Italian Filippino Lippi the virgin and Bernard is obviously just to make some amendment in the course of his theological reflection. However, look at how she does it – with indecision and trepidation. It even seems that her hand is concerning the manuscript – shaking. Filipino special bit of passing on her psychological state. Mary looks pale and haggard, but attentive and as if even timid in front of the famous theologian.

With an amazing variety transferred and the palette of feelings that other characters in the picture. The angels accompanying the virgin Mary, see St. Bernard from the bottom up: who with reverence, and who with undisguised curiosity. The monks in the background with his gestures Express the attitude to contemplate their wonder.

From the best works of Filippino Lippi, among which is "the appearance of the virgin to Saint Bernard", with all their internal drama, emanates umirotvorenie and tranquility. Elongated shape, delicate face the beauty of his characters seems sublime and perfect.

Author: Anna Yesterday
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