Art | Pictures of the Month | December 2007
Picture of the Month
December 2007
The Adoration of the Child Jesus [c. 1480]
by Cosimo Rosselli
We have chosen the Barber’s masterpiece of c.1480, The Adoration of the Child Jesus by the Florentine artist Cosimo Rosselli (1439–1507) to welcome in the festive season. In 2000 this painting underwent thorough restoration, and we can now appreciate the original clarity of Rosselli’s vibrant palette and the crisp distinctiveness of his figures, for which he was so highly regarded among his contemporaries.
Rosselli, a contemporary of Michelangelo (1475–1564), Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) and Raphael (1445–1510), worked principally in Florence and Rome, and ran a highly successful workshop. In 1481 he contributed to the Sistine Chapel fresco cycles alongside Botticelli, Ghirlandaio and Perugino, for which he is principally famous today. The last two decades of his life, however, were largely devoted to monumental altarpieces. The Adoration of the Child Jesus is thought to have formed the centre panel of such an altarpiece triptych, although the church in which it stood remains unknown.
The Renaissance was a time of fervid innovation and saw an invigorated interest in antiquity, humanism, science, philosophy, politics and art. Artists of the period became particularly interested in making things appear lifelike through refining their use of perspective, volume and texture, and here Rosselli has achieved superb effects of recession as the landscape sweeps away into the distant panorama. The figures are convincingly three-dimensional and sensitively rendered - note especially the pious and delicate faces that seek to communicate some level of human sensibility and induce empathy in the viewer.
Adoration scenes are not meant to be chronologically accurate but are often designed to present a devotional and narrative representation of highly complex theological subject matter. Rosselli has skilfully signified Christ’s life within the image of a celebration of his birth, in which we can clearly identify the Virgin Mary in blue adoring the baby Jesus who lies on a bundle of wheat. The latter prophesies the Eucharist and Christ’s Passion for mankind, as is also alluded to by the poignant aquilegia, flower of melancholy, which blooms in front of him. We can see the three Magi: Melchoir, Caspar, and Balthazar, who came bearing gifts at Christ’s birth. Together they represent the three ages of man and remind us of human mortality. Rosselli has also included Saint Jerome (on Mary’s left), Saint Benedict (in black), and Saint Francis. God the Father looks down from Heaven, flanked by two floating angels and surrounded by a host of red-winged Seraphim, and blesses the group below as he directs the descending dove of the Holy Spirit. Various stages of the Nativity story unfold in the background, with the Annunciation to the shepherds seen to the left. The hierarchical symmetry seen in this work is characteristic of such late fifteenth-century Italian altarpieces.
Acquired in 1965, The Adoration of the Child Jesus is the only Renaissance altarpiece in the collection and, being a rare example of Rosselli’s work in this country, we are exceedingly lucky to have this beautiful painting here at the Barber. It acquires particular resonance in the build-up to Christmas, and we encourage you to interrupt your hectic festive shopping schedules to come and contemplate the sheer serenity and haunting peace of this image. Lastly, may all the Barber staff extend to you their warmest festive wishes and we hope you have a very delightful Christmas.Kathryn Murray, Gallery Assistant
A 15-minute gallery talk focusing on this picture and exhibition will be held in the Green Gallery on Thursday 13 December at 1.10pm and 1.40pm.
| What is your favourite work of art in the Barber Institute galleries? Drop us a line at info@barber.org.uk and let us know, and we could feature your choice in a future Picture of the Month. |