Raphael, Sistine Madonna (fresco)

Description

The Virgin is frontal, standing in the clouds and holding the Child Jesus in her arms who is seated frontally in the arms of the Mother. The left hand is placed on the opposite leg, flexed on Mary's arm. Moreover, he too, like the Virgin, looks towards the devotee with a frowning expression. Our Lady has a very young appearance. His serious gaze also expresses a slight melancholy. She then wears a long red robe and a scarf on the neckline. A large ochre veil wraps the head, arches to the right and wraps the Child at the bottom. Finally, the blue coat covers the lower part of the body, creating large drapery. St. Sixtus is an old man with sparse white hair and a hoary and shaggy beard. Above the white coat he then wears a golden mantle similar to a cope but very long. On the ground is placed the tiara, the tiara with three golden rings. Santa Barbara, on the other hand, is dressed in elegant sixteenth-century clothes. On the left, below, St. Sixtus raises his head to look towards them. In addition, his left hand is resting against his chest while his right is facing the front of the painting and seems to indicate the faithful. On the right, however, Santa Barbara is represented in profile and kneeling on the clouds. His left arm is folded against his chest while his face is turned towards the devotee and looks down.