The Madonna of the Rose
- Original dimensions
- 72.6 x 87.7 cm
- Museum
- Ulster Museum
Scene depicted
This painting presents the Virgin Mary, delicately holding the Christ child clothed in angelic light. The rose, a symbol of love and purity, unfolds at the heart of this religious composition, capturing the emotion of a mother in turmoil, emitting a deep sense of serenity and humanity.
Historical context
Created in 1506, the painting “The Madonna with the Rose” is at the heart of the Italian Renaissance , in Urbino, an iconic city of art and culture of this era. A masterpiece of the humanist movement, this canvas is today carefully preserved within the Ulster Museum, where visitors can marvel at its timeless beauty and striking dimensions.
Place in the artist's career
“The Madonna with the Rose” marks a pivotal moment in Raphael 's career, reflecting his evolution towards mastery of figures and space. Alongside works such as “The Madonna of the Empress” and “The Triumph of Galatea,” this painting embodies his period of artistic maturity, where he will fully reveal his creative genius.
Anecdote
“The beauty of nature reveals itself to those who know how to observe with the soul,” said Raphael . It is perhaps on a gentle spring morning, with floral scents floating in the air, that he felt the inspiration for this pictorial work , a perfect fusion between the divine and the human, already tinged with a tactile aura.