THE PRESENCE OF CORAL IN ART EXAMPLES IN ITALIAN PAINTING
it takes on different meanings in various historical periods. Its multifaceted nature, it has been the subject of great interest since ancient times. THE coral, connects the plant kingdom with each other, animal and mineral; embodying the concept of transformation,evolution and regeneration. Because of this, in the History of Art, artists have used it a lot as a symbolism and beauty ornament.
EXAMPLES IN ITALIAN PAINTING
At the beginning, il coral enters Sacred Art as a religious and apotropaic symbolism. We find in these masterpieces, the wealth of details and great attention to detail. The painter Jacopo Bellini is the
MADONNA TADINI – 1450 circa
Quest’opera, comes at a time of strong change of the teacher, straddling his style and Renaissance novelties. With the splendid blue background, the figure of the Madonna is represented frontally and faces behind a pink marble parapet. Ella, gently embraces the standing Child in the act of blessing.
A coral necklace red with a large pendant, adorns her neck. This iconographic element, alludes to the blood shed during the Passion. (the painting is kept at the Tadini Academy in Lovere) Di Piero della Francesca is the
MADONNA WITH THE CHILD - around 1435
This work is among the first that the master has created. The Madonna and Child, they are depicted looking out of a large window. The Mother tenderly supports him and looks at him, the Child seems to look back . Adorn her neck, a necklace with a coral branch. The two figures have a delicate complexion, the landscape behind them harmonizes with soft and enveloping colors. (the painting is kept in the Alana Collection – Newark Delaware in the United States) Another painting by the master is the
PALA DI BRERA or PALA DI MONTEFELTRO- 1472•1474
In this monumental work, abstract and still light is treated fantastically. This is the first Sacred Conversation developed mainly vertically; the dimensions and the absence of side compartments are unusual. The work presents in the center the Madonna enthroned in a position of adoration, with his hands folded towards the Baby Jesus asleep on his lap. His figure is predominant and the face is the vanishing point of the entire composition. They surround it, a host of angels and saints centrally forming the arrangement of the sacred group . The Child wears a coral pendant around his neck that hides references to the red of blood, symbol of life and death; but also the salvation linked to the resurrection of Christ. His sleeping position is a reference to his future death on the cross. (the work is located in the Brera Art Gallery in Milan ) To close the painter's triad, there is the picture there
OUR LADY OF SENIGALLIA-1470 • 1485
The work, represents the Madonna and Child between two angels inside a house. The line of the painting is unusual, shows us the protagonists as halved figures, cut from the lower edge of the picture. The child, in the act of blessing, she holds a white rose in her left hand, the symbol of the purity of the Madonna. To the neck, has a red pearl necklace with a coral branch, ancient symbol of protection for infants; in this sacred scene the blood red color of the coral is premonition of the Passion. (the painting is kept at the National Gallery of the Marche in Urbino )
Another interesting example, it is a work of the painter Antonello da Messina, il
POLYPYTCH OF SAN GREGORIO -1473 circa
This magnificent work, unfortunately it is in a very bad state of conservation. In time, the catastrophic events and the many restorations, they have not restored its ancient splendor. To date, the polyptych is incomplete, for the lack of a table. The general setting of the work is traditional, although some details, demonstrate the artist's attention to the news from the Italian peninsula and from Flemish colleagues. The center of the whole composition, it is the offering hand of the Virgin, the opening of the fingers breaks the static nature of the scene; it is perceived through the flexion of the thumb, a rotating movement that attracts the viewer. The child, sitting on your lap, takes the cherries from his hands. These are bright red, a reference to the original Sin and the Passion of Christ. To the neck, a red coral pendant, ancient apotropaic amulet for infants. An affectionate dialogue, between mother and child is perceived, observing the slightly inclined alignment of their heads. The Virgin's mantle, it envelops both of them as if to reinforce their feelings. (the painting is kept at the Regional Museum in Messina)
As a last example, the presence of coral in Sacred Art, a work of the great master Andrea Mantegna .
THE MADONNA DELLA VITTORIA or PALA DELLA VITTORIA-1496
The Madonna and Child, she is seated on an imposing throne. They both look towards Francesco Gonzaga, kneeling and with a smiling expression full of gratitude while receiving the blessing. The scene is set in an apse, to compose it are a pergola with flowers, leaves and fruit. A wooden frame can be seen in the decorated ferrule, a shell-shaped connection to which strings of coral and rock crystal beads are hung, from which hangs a large branch of red coral; apotropaic symbol and reference to the blood of the Passion. The symbolic transposition of the work is Paradise. A heavenly garden, where only with the Intercession of the Virgin, men can access it. (the work is located in the Louvre Museum in Paris)
With the next artist, the image of the coral will serve as a seal to beauty and power. By the master Domenico Ghirlandaio
PORTRAIT OF GIOVANNA TORNABUONI- 1488
This work is considered one of the most beautiful female portraits of the Florentine fifteenth century. The noblewoman is portrayed in profil, in a pose of great dignity. The curves of the back and chest, they soften the image and dress it with precious embroideries, with shiny and bright colors, it enhances the complexion. The hairstyle leaves free golden curls to frame her face. Behind the image of the Florentine noblewoman, the background of a dark wall, where you can see a cabinet with some objects. A brooch, a semi-closed prayer book and a hanging red coral bead necklace. (the painting is located in the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid ) Also by the master Domenico Ghirlandaio
PORTRAIT OF A YOUNG WOMAN- 1490 circa
The young woman has the typical clothing of the Florentine bourgeoisie of the time. Overlays of dresses fit the figure. The hair frames the thoughtful and beautiful face, the complexion is highlighted by a coral necklace that accentuates the neckline. The neutral background makes the portrait naturalistic. (the work is located in the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum in Lisbon)
At the end of this journey, there is a great Italian artist of the twentieth century,Amedeo Modigliani. Born in Livorno, it brought with it the characteristic colors of its coral, which we find in many of his famous works.
THE WOMAN WITH THE RED NECKLACE- 1918
This is a portrait of Madeleine Verdou. The picture does not point to similarity, but the face retains the main physiognomic characters. The graceful lines of the body, the oval of the head and the long neck embellished by the coral necklace, harmonize with the dark blue of the robe. (the painting is in a private collection) Other works by Modigliani where coral is present:
SITTING WOMAN WITH NECKLACE • NUDE WITH NECKLACE • NUDE WITH CORAL NECKLACE
The master's nudes, they are very feminine and sensual.
The dull but at the same time hypnotic looks, the primitive bodies with elongated necks are dressed only in a coral necklace. In these works, the simplicity of the compositions and the attention to chromatic harmonies are highlighted. And so the coral, wonderful object of desire has passed through the centuries enriching art with its color.
