Marriage of the Virgin by Giotto

Giotto
Giotto, Marriage of the Virgin, 1305
By Bhux

Marriage of the Virgin by Giotto is part of a fresco cycle considered to be a masterpiece of Western art. It rests alongside other panels chronologically depicting the life of Christ and the Life of the Virgin. The Scrovengi Chapel In Padua, Italy displays these frescoes from around 1305.

In Marriage of the Virgin Giotto depicts the marriage between the Virgin Mary and Joseph. The priest entrusts Mary's safety to Joseph by the guided touching of their fingertips. We see that they are holy by the gold halos around their heads. Mary holds her belly gently indicating possible pregnancy while onlookers appear humbled by God's presence. Giotto's work shows a clear shift from the two dimensional, rigid Byzantine style that dominated art in the day. Giotto painted the dome behind the ceremony with dimension; it clearly caves inward. He tries to create gentle folds in the fabrics by using shadows and adjusts the color depending on how much light hits the subject. The outlines of breasts and arms can be seen by the gently draping fabric. 

Faces are not flat and forward-facing like in traditional Byzantine artwork. Faces have depth and convey a variety of emotions. In Marriage of the Virgin, Giotto uses new styles and techniques to portray the commencement of the journey of Christ in this beginning section of his larger work, Life of the Virgin.
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Marriage of the Virgin

Giotto
Giotto, Marriage of the Virgin, 1305

Marriage of the Virgin was painted by Giotto in 1305, the painting now hangs in the Arena Chapel in Padua, Italy. I hope I am not the only one who has looked at this painted and immediately thought "wait Mary the Virgin got married? Since when?" that would be embarrassing. With some research I found out it is common knowledge that Mary was married to Joseph. I have already shown my lack of knowledge of The New Testament, but it appears Mary to pregnant. Her forearm and hand rest on her stomach, an act that many pregnant women do.

I looked at the painting and immediately knew it was by Giotto. The blue background is a signature color of Giotto's that appears in many of his paintings. The structure behind the marriage ceremony looks similar to other buildings in Giotto's work. This structure draws your attention to Mary and Joseph. It encompasses them and makes them the center of the fresco.

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Marriage of the Virgin

Marriage of the Virgin

 Raphael, Marriage of the Virgin, 1504
Self-contained and certain, Mary’s marriage to Joseph by Raphael takes symmetry to new levels. Everything is crisp. The lines, the vanishing point dead center, the height of the wedding party, and the social event they depict, all collaborate in an appropriate composition with a clean border. Pregnant and a virgin, Mary’s depiction in a wedding scene represents the social stigma of Raphael’s time...and our time. A pregnant woman should be wed. Surrounded with decoration, the work itself does not send the eye beyond. All that is to be seen is seen, very rare in a biblical painting, especially one with an accompanying narrative.

Not pictured in white, though the purest of the pure, Mary appears in her classic blue robes with Raphael’s added red dress, representative of the blood of Christ. The priest, most directly in line with the church, symbolizes the value of those most closely related to God. Her left hand is placed on her pregnant stomach and right hand accepting her ring. Mary’s dual commitments are represented: one to bear the Son of God, and one to her new husband. Raphael’s signature in the Church also adds to the symmetry of the piece, refusing to make one side heavier with significance. Mary and unborn Jesus, the focal point of the narrative, are balanced in importance by the Priests tilted head to the left, presenting symbolic symmetry even when visually lacking. Sharp, straight, and proper, Raphael’s work appeals to viewers and socialites through centuries.

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