History through Art

Hello my dear Readers!

 I am so, so sorry that I have not been on here for ages! I have been doing other things during my English, such as a project called "Story of My Life." I have to write my whole life with all the events of my life. It's loads of fun, and I am at the year 2010 in the book.
 For History I'm learning through art, so I look at pictures carefully, take notes, and then write an essay, play, or something. I'm doing the 14th-15th century, so for this one I picked out a painting and wrote an essay about it. Here is the picture:

And here's the Essay:

       Essay on a peice of Art from the 14th-15th Century.

    Picture: Madonna and Child
    By: Carlo Crivellie.
     The painting "Madonna and Child" was painted by Carlo Crivellie in 1480. The Materials used for this were Tempera and Gold on Wood. The Painting currently lives in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
     Half stylized, half realistic, Madonna is sitting her child, Christ, on a little wall. The Artist has painted them very stiffly.  Madonna's fingers are too long, and Christ's feet and hands are way too small. Madonna's mouth appears to be a bit too small.
 It appears that Madonna and Child and traveling. There is a road with people on it, with what seems to be a town on the horizon. The sky is half light and half dark,  suggesting that it is either dawn of dusk. Judging by the trees in the background, they are in a place that doesn't get much rain.
 The Artist has painted Christ holding a Goldfinch; the Goldfinch and the
 Cucumber in the top left hand corner symbolizing Redemption, while the fly and the apples symbolize Sin.
 Mother and Child are both wearing clothes of similar material, which looks rather like heavy cotton. Madonna's clothes are heavily patterned, and her head dress has tassels on it, perhaps to add some weight, thus making sure it won't fly away. Christ however, is clothed in a simple garment, with some rope around his middle to keep it on.
 The Mother and Child have a halo around their heads made from what would appear to be wood, and decorated with jewels and beads. Christ's halo has a  red cross on it, indicating that he was (or is to be) crucified.
 The Artist seems to have the red canvas behind Madonna held up with something that looks similar to shoelaces, or perhaps rope for a tent.
 The Artist has put Christ on a beaded cushion, as if to make him more obvious. There is also a blanket on the wall, on which is Crivellie's signature.


By WillowUnicorn