The Sistine Madonna in the Royal Gallery at Dresden, Saxony Essay

The Sistine Madonna in the Royal Gallery at Dresden, comte de SaxeThe most beautiful picture in the world is the Sistine Madonna in theRoyal Gallery at Dresden, Saxony. It was painted by Raphael as analtar-piece for a church service in Piacenza, Italy. In a far corner of thegreat Palace of Art it is now placed, probably to remain until thecolors shall fade. It is the only picture in the room. The figures arof life size. When that room is entered all voices are hushed, and allmerriment silenced. The place is as holy as a church.In the centre of the sheet of paper is the Virgin Mother with a young, almostgirlish face or surpassing loveliness. In her eyes affection andwonder are blended, and the features and the figure are the mostspiritual and beautiful in the worlds art.I have wondered where Raphael found that face. It is not voluptuouslike the Italian, nor heavy like the German, nor light like theFrench, nor refrigerated like the women of more northern nations. It is theideal wom ans face for all nations and ages, and yet it is typical ofnone.In the Mothers arms is the Divine Child, with those strange,far-away-looking eyes that casual visitors so subatomic understandeyesthat even in babyhood seem reading the future, and beginning to seethe greatness of the worlds sorrow. Kneeling on one side, below them,is St. Sixtus, the nearby perfect of all pictures of strong andvenerable age that was ever painted on the other side Santa Barbara,only less beautif...