Castelfranco Madonna
- Date of Creation:
- circa 1503
- Alternative Names:
- The Madonna and Child Between St. Francis and St. Nicasius
- Height (cm):
- 200.00
- Length (cm):
- 152.00
- Medium:
- Oil
- Support:
- Canvas
- Subject:
- Figure
- Art Movement:
- Renaissance
- Created by:
- Current Location:
- Castelfranco Veneto, Italy
- Displayed at:
- Cathedral of Castelfranco Veneto
- Owner:
- Cathedral of Castelfranco Veneto
- Castelfranco Madonna Page's Content
- Story / Theme
- Analysis
- Related Paintings
- Artist
- Art Period
- Bibliography
Castelfranco Madonna Story / Theme
Commissioned by Tuzio Constanzo, the Castelfranco Madonna was produced in memory of his son, Matteo. Tuzio was a condottiero, one of the warlords of Italian city-states during the late Middle Ages. His son died, probably whilst serving him, for the Republic of Venice in the early 1500s. He was killed in a place called Serenissima and this artwork, together with a family chapel, was created in his honor.
Castelfranco was Giorgione's hometown and the Castelfranco Madonna, an altarpiece, was one of the few works of art that was based on reality.
To say that the artist had an unusual approach to his subjects would be an understatement and even this altarpiece manages departs from illogical normality due its architectural settings.
Giorgione's early works, particularly the Castelfranco Madonna, were known for the artist's use of the traditional panel support, much like his painting Judith (please see Related Paintings below). Giorgione created such works on canvas and used the textured, rough surface to complement his artistic expression.
The artist's fascination with nature and desire to show the natural form in his work is largely forgotten in the Castelfranco Madonna but this may have been due to the fact that the guidelines for the commission were more rigid.
A piece in memory of Tuzio's son, the work was obviously inspired a great deal by the commissioner but Giorgione's artistic brilliance still shines through.
In the art world the Castelfranco Madonna would be described as a typical 'sacra conversazione' (sacred conversation), where the Virgin and Child are depicted alongside various saints - in this case St Francis and St Nicasius. A style of painting that was almost developed as part of the Renaissance in Italy, it shows an interaction of figures.
The fact that Giorgione's commissioner for this piece was a warlord more than likely inspired the armored figure and the other martyred saint - perhaps relating to war or religion, both of which held a high place in Italy during the early 1500s and the Renaissance.
Castelfranco Madonna Analysis
Composition:
The Castelfranco Madonna is often compared to Laura, a later painting by Giorgione and shows how his style had changed by 1506 when that painting was produced. Here, the Italian uses light very evocatively on the surfaces of the work to make the painting stand out.
It could be argued that the Castelfranco Madonna was one of the most important steps for the Venetian artist on his way to becoming a world famous painter. A character of many of Giorgione's future paintings (namely Laura and The Tempest) is the intricate handling of foliage, architecture and flesh detail in the picture.
Use of light:
It is evident that both the shady and lit areas have received a rather grainy treatment and this ensures a radiance of color, contrasted by blobs of impasto in the highlights to absorb the dress of the Virgin.
Mood, tone and emotion:
Maybe due to the personal attachment to this work by the commissioner, Giorgione seemingly took more care when creating the vanishing point, position and horizontals in the pattern. In his other paintings, Giorgione's rather enigmatic mood didn't have the same result.
The architecture has a pastoral prominence to their features and the romanticism and color scheme used to depict the saints further reinforces the artist's wandering mind.
Use of technique:
The Castelfranco Madonna is a largely traditional work in terms of its technique and tests carried out in 1978 proved this. This was, however, one of Giorgione's earlier works and became more creative and experimental in his later career.
Castelfranco Madonna Related Paintings
Castelfranco Madonna Artist
Giorgione's early career was spent working in Venice and painting Madonnas, a popular choice of subject matter at this time and the Castelfranco Madonna epitomizes his style and technique.
Many commentators argue that meeting Leonardo da Vinci in the early 1500s profoundly affected Giorgione's art, particularly his use of oil.
While Florence was enjoying the fame thrust upon it by da Vinci, Giorgione was busy creating his own masterpieces in Venice.
With works such as the Castelfranco Madonna Giorgione surpassed previous legends such as the Bellinis and his skills and versatility earned his a great deal of respect among art fans.
With an overwhelming passion for natural beauty Giorgione decided that everything he produced would be used to showcase the splendor of nature and he did so with consummate ease and brilliance.
Such was his amazing talent that he created forms of the living that were so harmonious and carefully produced using fresco or oil that it was suggested he infused life into his work and figures. This set him apart from almost all the painters that had gone before him - and left many after in great awe of his works.
Modern art critics generally agree that Giorgione was a pillar of the Renaissance and a pioneer in the world of art - responsible for the increased use of oils paintings.
Castelfranco Madonna Art Period
In art history, the High Renaissance was a time denoting the pinnacle of the visual arts in the Italian Renaissance. Most agree that the High Renaissance began in the 1490s, more or less with Leonardo's fresco of The Last Supper in Milan and ended in 1527 with the sacking of Rome by the troops of Charles V.
In French Renaissance means 'rebirth', and artists such as Giorgione who were seen to be at the head of an intellectual and artistic evolution.
In Italy, the High Renaissance was a time of outstanding artistic production and the best-known examples of Italian Renaissance painting derive from artists such as Giorgione, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and a young Raphael.
The portrayal of mood and radiant colors of Giorgione's work and those of his followers, such as Titian, perfectly represent the High Renaissance style in Venice during this period.
Castelfranco Madonna Bibliography
To learn more about Giorgione's career please refer to the following recommended sources.
• Cook, Herbert. Giorgione. Dodo Press, 2007
• Dal Pozzolo, Enrico Maria. Giorgione. Motta, 2009
• Hartt, F. & Wilkins, D. G. History of Italian Renaissance Art, 2007
• Lucco, Mauro. Giorgione. GALLIMARD, 1997
• Pignatti, T. & Pedrocco, F. Giorgione. LEVI, 1999
• Vasari, Giorgio. The Lives of the Artists. Oxford University Press, 1991