Madonna and Child by Duccio di Buoninsegna - Essay Example

The rough parts of the background also prove the painting’s current condition.The painting shows the picture of the Virgin holding her child (Christ). The virgin is adorned in black clothing while the child has brighter clothing. The Virgin's face and the inner parts of the clothing are also bright. The edges of the clothing also contrast sharply with the outer black part since they have been painted with a golden thin line. All these parts of the virgin and the child have been set on a golden background, which is somehow rough.

The roughness in the background is slightly because of the rough patterns especially the ones on the ends of the painting just beneath the frame. On the virgin’s head is a halo. The virgin seems to be in a seated posture and the child is on her lap. She is also keenly looking at her child whose gaze is also directed towards the mother. The child’s hand also seems extended towards the mother’s veil as it pushes this part of her clothing probably with an aim of getting a better glimpse.

One of the notable elements of the painting is the gaze between the mother and the child, which is mostly used to represent the future of a child, which would be full of pain and tribulations. The same future is also depicted by the luminous parts of the Virgin's garments. As seen earlier, the outer part of the mother’s garment is somehow dull. However, the inner parts of her garments are luminous, which is also used to represent the discussed element of the child’s future. The halo on the Virgin's head is probably used to depict her holiness.

In addition, the mother ways of holding the child also depict the child’s humanism though she is of a godly descent.The painting is among the artworks in the Byzantine period, which were mainly influenced by biblical stories.