07_28_09_Sant’Agostino

Sant’Agostino

Madonna di Loreto by Caravaggio was placed in the Cavalletti Chapel of Sant’Agostino in 1604 and today remains in its original location. This amazing work of art highlights baroque style and is an oil on canvas painting. This painting, like a lot of Caravaggio’s paintings, is dark with illuminated figures. The painting depicts two pilgrims, a man and a woman, kneeling before the Madonna and Child. The Madonna is looking down at the pilgrims with empathy. You can see the traces of compassion in the serene facial expression. The Madonna and child are highlighted by a simple halo. They are positioned above the pilgrims (elevated), giving them an out of this world feel. Yet, despite the halos, both the child and the Virgin Mary look very ordinary. The Madonna’s features are beautiful, but common. Like the pilgrims, the Madonna is also barefoot. The painting attempts to unify the commoner to a sacred figure. To depict the Madonna and child as holy in a subtle way; there is no arrogance in the face of the Virgin Mary. Madonna di Loreto was commissioned by the heir of Ermete Cavalletti. The oil painting was painted to adorn the family chapel and has stayed there since. The fact that it remains in its original location adds to its appeal since we are able to see the painting where it was meant to be seen. The beauty of this painting was definitely an encouraging factor in my choosing. The Virgin Mary looks so beautiful and the pilgrims look so full of faith and adoration. Despite its darkness, the painting, I believe, portrays a striking message. Despite the holiness of the mother and child, they are not meant to look drastically different (superior) than the pilgrims. Caravaggio placed the Madonna and child close to the people, which I believe is a very unique trait. Though a commissioned painting, you can see the love Caravaggio has for his art through the way he painted the Virgin Mary. It is a very simple but meaningful painting.
Elena Noureddine, Survey of Art and Architecture, University of Florida