In my attempt to compare two works of art, I have chosen two similar paintings. Both of these paintings are from the Italian Renaissance period (1420-1600). The two artists that I chose are extremely famous and well known for their enormous contributions to the art world, as we know it. These two famous painters are Leonardo Da Vinci and Raffaello Sanzio ( Raphael). From Leonardo I have chosen Madonna Litta and from Raphael I chose The small Cowper Madonna. These paintings are similar in many ways and they resemble each other very much. In these paintings I would think that the common theme is the love a mother has for her child.
Leonardo's Madonna Litta, at the first glance we see a mother breast-feeding her child. Threw research I discovered that this painting is considered as a virgin mother nursing her boy. The Virgin mother in the painting to my view resembles the virgin Maria, due to the colors used to draw her, For instance the light blue of her coat. This painting shows that the mother and child are in a dark room overlooking a picturesque scenery view of a clear blue sky with beautiful mountains and beautiful light blue clouds and it also seems like the sun even though not visible is poring down into the room and lighting up the mother and child like as if they were angels sent from heaven. The painting is full of rich bright colors that emphasize on the mother and child. The painting is gracefully filled with harmony as we observe the child nourishing himself with curious eyes that makes us feel like he is wondering why everyone is staring at him. Although from another point of view it looks like the child is just so relaxed knowing that he is wrapped in the safe arms of his mother and that he feels her warmth surrounding and protecting him therefore, he let's his eyes wonder off into the room. We notice that the mother is loving and caring just by the way her soft eyes seem to caress the baby boy and she has a little smile as she looks at her boy nourishing himself from her own natural breast.