caravaggista: Caravaggio, Madonna di Loreto (c. 1603-6) Standing on her doorstep, Mary, dr
caravaggista:Caravaggio, Madonna di Loreto (c. 1603-6)Standing on her doorstep, Mary, dressed in a rich, velvety dress and sheer shawl cradles the Christ Child as she gazes at two pilgrims who kneel before them in adoration. Christ’s face is cast in shadow and his tiny hands are in the act of blessing. The pilgrims, dirty and unkempt, are physically close to the Madonna and Child, as though their hands could reach out and gently touch the hem of Mary’s clothes. One can almost feel the their tiredness being replaced with awe after reaching their sacred destination. Were it not for the pilgrims’ adoration and Mary and Jesus’ delicate halos, the humble Virgin and her Child would hardly seem divine. And yet, this is Caravaggio’s point. He pulls Mary and her Son down from the heavens, does away with elaborate markers of holiness, and restores the vision of their earthly lives. Mary is human. Caravaggio’s Madonna di Loreto is a portal to a treasured encounter between Mary and her Son. Here, the divine appears to the poorest and most simple of people, who have nothing to offer except their humble faith.(Source: Caravaggista.com / author’s photo). -- source link