Madonna and Child with Book
c. 1502-03
Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio) (Italian, 1483-1520)
On View

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.

Details

  • Artist Name: Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio) (Italian, 1483-1520)
  • Title: Madonna and Child with Book
  • Date: c. 1502-03
  • Medium: Oil on panel
  • Dimensions: 21-3/4 x 15-3/4 in. (55.2 x 40 cm)
  • Credit Line: Norton Simon Art Foundation
  • Accession Number: M.1972.2.P
  • Copyright: © Norton Simon Art Foundation

Object Information

Thomas Townend (Christie’s, London, 14 July 1883, lot 75, as Francia, bought-in);
Colonel John Bullen-Symes Bullen (b. 1847) and Mrs. Blanch Mary Bullen (d. 1886, née Townend, younger daughter of William Hall, Syndale, Kent), Catherston-Leweston, and Marshwood Manor, Dorsetshire, by descent to;
Elizabeth Townend (Mrs. Charles) Wheler, Syndale, Kent (d. 1912), by descent to;
John Hall, Syndale, Kent, by descent to;
Heirs of John Hall, Syndale Kent, to;
[Marshall Spink, London];
[Wildenstein & Co., London, via Spink, by June, 1952, sold 1972 to];
Norton Simon Art Foundation.

[on loan]

  • New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1973-06-22 to 1973-08

[on loan]

  • Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1973-08 to 1974-01

[on loan]

  • Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, de Young Museum, 1974-10 to 1975-05

Raphael at the Metropolitan: The Colonna Atarpiece

  • The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2006-06-20 to 2006-09-03

Raphael's "Madonna and Child with Book" (working title)

  • Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, 2020-04-03 to 2020-07-19

[on loan]

  • Phoenix, Phoenix Art Museum, 1980-11-18 to 1981-05-20
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  • Kelber, Wilhelm, Raphael von Urbino: Leben und Werk, 1979, no. 14
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  • de Vecchi, Pier Luigi, Rafaello, la Pittura, 1981, no. 9 p. 239
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  • Joannides, Paul, The Drawings of Raphael, With a Complete Catalogue, 1983, nos. 32-35
  • Quednau, Rold, Zeitschrift für Kunstgeschichte, 1983, fig. 3 pp. 130-131, 134
  • Masterpieces from the Norton Simon Museum, 1989, p. 25
  • Brejon de Lavergnée, Barbara, Renaissance et Baroque: Dessins Italiens du Musée de Lille, 1990, p. 43
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  • The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Masterworks from the Musée des Beaux-Arts, Lille, 1992, Figure 1 p. 207
  • Capellen, J. M. Z., Raphael in Florence, 1996, figs. 87, 92 pp. 148, 151, 153
  • Wagner, Christopher, Farbe und Metapher: Die Entstehung einer neuzeitlichen Bildmetaphorik in der verrömischen Malerei Rahpaels, 1999, pl. 13 pp. 180-183, 187, 189, 196, 221, 222, 442, 517
  • Oberhuber, Konrad, Raphael: The Paintings, 1999, no. 20, pl. 21 pp. 32, 250
  • The Museums of the World, 2001, p. 26
  • Capellen, Jürg Meyer zur, Raphael: A Critical Catalogue of His Paintings, Volume I, The Beginnings in Umbria and Florence, ca. 1500-1508, 2001, pp. 25, 29, 40, 73, 144-150
  • Dyrness, William, Visual Faith: Art, Theology and Worship in Dialogue, 2001, fig. 15 p. 48
  • Fischel, Oskar, Raphael, 2002, p. 357
  • Boskovitis, Miklos, Brown, David Alan, et al., Italian Paintings of the Fifteenth Century, 2003, p. 564
  • Chapman, Hugo; Tom Henry and Carol Plazzota, Raphael from Urbino to Rome, 2004, fig. 10 pp. 27, 94, 132, 144
  • Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, Spring 2006, 2006, Fig. 14 11-12
  • Campbell, Sara, Collector Without Walls: Norton Simon and His Hunt for the Best, 2010, cat. 885 p. 348
  • Renato Miracco, Italian Treasures in the U.S. An Itinerary of Art, 2014, p. #41
  • Passavant, Günter, Mitteilungen des Kunsthistorischen Institutes in Florenz, 2015, fig. 7 pp. 194-195, 218, 222
  • Antonio Paolucci, Raffaello, 2016, pg.# 15, pg.# 16,pg.# 359
  • Pfisterer, Ulrich, Raffael - Faith. Love. Glory, 2019, abb. 23 p. 44 ; p. 45 (ill.)
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