Madonna and Child with Book
c. 1502–03
Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio) (Italian, 1483–1520)
Oil on panel
Norton Simon Art Foundation
In this painting, the balanced, serene figures are described simply and naturally. A lucid geometry organizes the composition, from the pyramidal grouping of the Madonna and Child to the geometric idealization of their faces and bodies. The deep, blue arch of the Madonna’s silhouette encloses the figure of the Child and frames the book, which is further emphasized by the touching hands that hold it. The inscription in the book introduces the ninth hour, or Nones of the Canonical Offices, recited daily by all monastic communities. The Nones commemorates Christ’s Crucifixion and Death. With eyes turned to heaven, the Christ Child contemplates His own sacrifice as man’s Redeemer. Raphael has depicted more than just a beautiful image of the Madonna and Child — he has created a meditation piece. The profoundly spiritual quality achieved by Raphael explains why his Madonnas were in such high demand.
Raphael: The Making of a Master
Raphael 2020, a special display organized as part of a worldwide celebration of the 500th anniversary of the artist’s death, highlighted Madonna and Child with Book, the only painting by this great Renaissance master on the West Coast. However, the year 2020 unfolded in a different way. When the Museum closed in response to the pandemic, staff pivoted to present programming virtually. Davide Gasparotto, Senior Curator of Paintings at the J. Paul Getty Museum, gave the Museum’s first online lecture; Associate Curator Maggie Bell recorded a discussion with art historians Tracy Cosgriff and Lisa Pon about Raphael’s life and artistic practice; and Curator Gloria Williams Sander offered a close-looking video encounter with the work.
Watch: Raphael: The Making of a Master
