Raffaello (1483-1520)
Madonna Sistina (Sistine Madonna)
1512–1513
Oil on canvas, 265.5 x 201 cm
Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden
Raphael originally created the Sistine Madonna on behalf of Pope Julius II for the high altar of the monastery church of San Sisto in Piacenza (southeast of Milan). In 1754, after almost two years of tough negotiations, it was acquired for the Dresden gallery. After the end of World War II, the famous painting was taken to Moscow by the trophy commissions of the Red Army. According to the so-called Soviet painting passport, which was created in Moscow in 1955, the painting had not been restored in the USSR. In 1955, it was first transported to Berlin, where it was shown in the exhibition on the occasion of the return deadline. In 1956, the Sistine Madonna finally returned to Dresden to the Old Masters Picture Gallery.
The open curtain reveals the appearance of the supernatural world. Mary carries the baby Jesus from the vastness of heaven to earth, so that the birth of Jesus is depicted here, as it were. The serious facial features of mother and child reflect the knowledge of the coming Passion of Christ. On the left, St. Sixtus kneels humbly, on the right, completely introverted, St. Barbara. The two saints were venerated at the high altar in San Sisto, which is why Raphael included them in the picture. At the very end of the painting process, Raphael inserted the two little angels lounging on the parapet below. Their waiting obviously seems to refer to the incarnation process of Jesus. In addition, it was suggested that they wait for the Mass that was celebrated in front of the picture on the altar, in order to then carry the host to heaven. From a compositional point of view, they repeatedly lead the viewer’s gaze up into the picture.
Raphael used genuinely painterly means to illustrate an unearthly phenomenon. It happens again and again for every viewer when he steps in front of the painting. The painting is one of the most famous Renaissance paintings in the world. (Andreas Henning, SKD)
See also:
• Julius II, Pope (1443-1513) | Luti, Margherita | Sixtus II (257-258)