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Marriage of the Virgin (Perugino)
Encyclopedia
The Marriage of the Virgin is a painting by the Italian
Renaissance
master Perugino. It is housed in the Musée des Beaux-Arts of Caen
, France
. Initially commissioned to Pinturicchio
for the recently completed cathedral of Perugia
, Perugino took over the commission and finished the work around 1500-1504, probably after several periods of stasis.
The painting prominently displays the Virgin's engagement ring
, which was then kept at the cathedral as a holy relic.
Later, in 1797, the picture was confiscated by Napoleon and was subsequently taken to Caen, Normandy
. Any attempt of the commune of Perugia, which saw also the personal commitment of Antonio Canova
, to retrieve the work failed.
The wide perspective of the picture, with at its centre a hoctagonal edifice and the aligned composition of the figures on the sides, is strongly related to the Perugino's Christ Giving the Keys to St. Peter at the Sistine Chapel
. The painting prominently displays the Virgin's engagement ring, which was then kept at the cathedral as a holy relic.
Raphael, Perugino's pupil, painted a version
of his own of the picture in 1504.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
master Perugino. It is housed in the Musée des Beaux-Arts of Caen
Caen
Caen is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the Calvados department and the capital of the Basse-Normandie region. It is located inland from the English Channel....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Initially commissioned to Pinturicchio
Pinturicchio
Bernardino di Betto, called Pintoricchio or Pinturicchio was an Italian painter of the Renaissance. He acquired his nickname, Pintoricchio , because of his small stature, and he used it to sign some of his works....
for the recently completed cathedral of Perugia
Perugia Cathedral
The Cathedral of San Lorenzo is the main religious edifice of Perugia, Umbria, central Italy.- History :From the establishment of the bishopric, a cathedral existed in Perugia in different locations, until, in 936-1060, a new edifice, corresponding to the transept of the present cathedral, was...
, Perugino took over the commission and finished the work around 1500-1504, probably after several periods of stasis.
The painting prominently displays the Virgin's engagement ring
Engagement ring
An engagement ring is a ring indicating that the person wearing it is engaged to be married, especially in Western cultures. In the United Kingdom, Ireland and North America, engagement rings are traditionally worn only by women, and rings can feature diamonds or other gemstones. In other cultures...
, which was then kept at the cathedral as a holy relic.
Later, in 1797, the picture was confiscated by Napoleon and was subsequently taken to Caen, Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
. Any attempt of the commune of Perugia, which saw also the personal commitment of Antonio Canova
Antonio Canova
Antonio Canova was an Italian sculptor from the Republic of Venice who became famous for his marble sculptures that delicately rendered nude flesh...
, to retrieve the work failed.
The wide perspective of the picture, with at its centre a hoctagonal edifice and the aligned composition of the figures on the sides, is strongly related to the Perugino's Christ Giving the Keys to St. Peter at the Sistine Chapel
Sistine Chapel
Sistine Chapel is the best-known chapel in the Apostolic Palace, the official residence of the Pope in Vatican City. It is famous for its architecture and its decoration that was frescoed throughout by Renaissance artists including Michelangelo, Sandro Botticelli, Pietro Perugino, Pinturicchio...
. The painting prominently displays the Virgin's engagement ring, which was then kept at the cathedral as a holy relic.
Raphael, Perugino's pupil, painted a version
The Marriage of the Virgin (Raphael)
The Marriage of the Virgin, also known as Lo Sposalizio, is an oil painting by Italian High Renaissance artist Raphael. Completed in 1504 for a Franciscan church in Città di Castello, the painting depicts a marriage ceremony between Mary and Joseph...
of his own of the picture in 1504.