The Renaissance period was divided into Early Renaissance and High Renaissance. Fra Filippo Lippi’s Madonna and Child Enthroned with Two Angels (c. 1434) was created in the Early Renaissance period and Andrea del Sarto’s The Holy Family with The Infant St. John the Baptist (c. 1530) was created in the High Renaissance period. The Early Renaissance followed centuries of religiously dominated eras – Byzan

The Madonna and Child Enthroned with Two Angels still had remnants of the Middle Ages – the overpowering and demanding religious tone. Lippi’s painting was strict and guided. The notion of center and balance was created by the use of scientific perspective. The High Renaissance brought it down to a more realistic level so that patrons didn’t feel burdened as seen in The Holy Family with The Infant St. John the Baptist. The softer colors and blending lines created a less tense mood and more figure interaction. Nevertheless, both paintings represented their time period – of the revival of the classics and the starting point of more scholarly achievements and less religious dealings.

The Madonna and Child Enthroned with Two Angels and The Holy Family with The Infant St. John the Baptist had messages for its spectators. The Madonna and Child Enthroned with Two Angels was an instrument of religious instructions for the patrons. The Madonna and the two angels have large gold halos overpowering their heads. The patrons are not to forget the importance of these icons in their daily lives. The angels wear cross-like suspenders across their chest. The patrons are reminded how Jesus died for their salvation. An angel and the child hold religious texts. It is plainly visible to the patrons that could read. Also, In The Holy Family with The Infant St. John the Baptist, the religious message is emphasized less and subtler. Andrea del Sarto created halos with a quick stroke of gold paint. Their role as religious icons was toned down to more human form. Del Sarto made the patrons feel more comfortable so that they could identify better with the Holy Family. The cross and the globe are portrayed as toys for the child. The globe’s presence represents the humanistic trend of the Renaissance, but the cross on top of it and the gold cross band drawn on it still shows the power of Christianity.

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Some topics in this essay:
John Baptist, Holy Family, Enthroned Angels, Middle Ages, Michelangelo Renaissance, , Giotto Gothic, Del Sarto, Madonna Lippi’s, Gothic Gothic, holy family, madonna child, st john, st john baptist, john baptist, family infant st, infant st, family infant, madonna child enthroned, child enthroned, infant st john, holy family infant, enthroned angels, del sarto, renaissance period,