“The Mother of God with the Baby in Roses,” Fedor Antonovich Bruni – overview of the painting 
- Posted by Fedor Antonovich Bruni
- Museum: Tretyakov Gallery
- Year: 1843
Overview of the painting :
Our Lady with a baby in roses – Fedor Antonovich Bruni. Oil on canvas. 64 x 40 cm
The image of the Mother of God was a source of inspiration for many artists. Repeatedly addressed this topic and F. AND. Bruni. In 1843, he painted the painting “Hot mother with a baby in roses”, which became widely known thanks to his talent and perfect technique.
Near the stone fence facing the audience calmly stands young Maria. Rays of light illuminate the tender and slightly detached face of the Virgin. She knows about the fate prepared for her son, and is ready for this sacrifice in the name of saving people. Love and humility glow in her sad eyes. With two hands she holds a flower of beautiful snow-white lily on a long stalk – a symbol of purity and integrity.
A white blanket embroidered with silver thread covers the head of the Virgin, hiding golden red hair. Shedding with pearl shades, it falls on the back with soft waves.
Madonna’s dress is traditionally a bright red tunic and a deep blue cloak decorated with gold embroidery. All colors in the picture have their meaning: white means purity, red means life, blue means a symbol of the divine, the heavenly. The bedspread unites the mother and child, one of its edges is thrown over the shoulder of the young mother, and the other lies under the legs of a standing baby, protecting them from the cold of stone.
Little Jesus, dressed in a white open shirt, pressed his back against Mary, leaning on her hand. Golden hair with soft waves framed a thoughtful face. A serious look is directed to the future, childishly chubby lips are sadly closed. A hand pressed to the cheek tells us about grief.
Before them, magnificent scarlet roses bloom, a symbol of love, a divine aroma spills in the air. The image on the canvas is limited to the walls of the arch, but the blue sky with gray clouds, visible through the spread of heavy curtains in the background, gives it depth and space.
The artist’s skill allowed him to make invisible the color transitions from one shade to another. Thanks to this, we feel the reality of the sliding silk of the head blanket and the severity of the cloak depots, the fragility of rose petals and the glossy surface of the leaves. Mary and Jesus seem alive.
The rich and pure colors with pastel, warm shades are harmoniously combined, creating a lyrical, light-fed mood. The picture gives peace, readiness to overcome any trials.