What is the mystery behind the "Mute" by Rafael Santi and why it is compared to Da Vinci's "Mona Lisa"

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Rafael Santi is an Italian Renaissance painter from Urbino, Italy, renowned for the excellence and technical precision of his canvases. Together with Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, he forms the trinity of the great masters of that era, and his painting "Mute" is put on a par with the legendary "Mona Lisa" of the great da Vinci.

Most Productive Artist - Raphael Santi

Raphael's magnificent painting, despite its relatively short life, was the result of a long study. It began at an early age, when Raphael spent long hours in his father's workshop, and continued into his adult years in one of the largest workshops of its kind. Thus, Rafael Santi earned a reputation as one of the most productive artists of his time. Although he is widely known for his paintings, many of which can still be seen in the Vatican Palace (the rooms of this palace with Raphael's frescoes are considered the greatest work of his career), he was also an architect and printer. In other words, a real "Renaissance man".

His first documented work was the Altar of the Baronchi for the Church of St. Nicholas of Tolentino in the town of Chita di Castello. He began painting this painting in 1500 and finished in 1501.

Mute

One of the best portraits of Raphael, entitled "Mute", was painted in the winter of 1507 while in his hometown. The painting depicts an unknown woman against a black background. The personality of the model is a mystery, but research has revealed interesting features. There is an earlier version below the painting, which depicts a younger woman in different clothes. Scientific research has also shown that the gold necklace is a later addition to the portrait. In addition to the necklace, the woman has three rings: one with a ruby, another with a sapphire, and the third enameled in a European style.

"Mute" vs "Mona Lisa"

Interestingly, the painting highlights some of Leonard's influences, although there is no doubt that Raphael saw La Gioconda. Upon his arrival in Florence, the artist first of all studied the work of his predecessor colleagues, among whom the most influential, of course, was Leonardo da Vinci. Inspired by the famous Mona Lisa, Raphael creates his own version of the mysterious woman - the portrait of Mute.

What are the similarities with "La Gioconda" does "Dumb" have? The most important thing is the identical 3/4 pose with crossed arms and a mysterious facial expression (when looking from right to left). As in Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci, the overlapping hand in Mute also represents the attribute of a virtuous woman. The presence of a handkerchief is another well-known symbol of piety since the Middle Ages. The hair is parted in a straight middle part - another similarity to the portrait of Leonardo.

Difference from "Mona Lisa" - the highest level of writing details of jewelry and clothing. While Leonardo's painting depicts a natural landscape behind the Mona Lisa, the background of the Mute is darkness, focusing the viewer's attention primarily on the heroine of the picture. The dark background on Raphael's canvases can be compared with the frame of an expensive painting or a case of a precious stone: in the same way, "The Mute" does not need additional decorations, in the painting she is the main object and the main mystery. The possible reason for the name of the painting is that the painted woman, like many heroes of Raphael's portraits are silent, but the picture itself is fraught with mysteries and “speaks” with the audience, telling its story. Even the tense lips of "Mute" indicate that the heroine has made a vow of silence and keeps the secret of some dark story.

The personality of the heroine

Regarding the personality of the heroine, there is a version that this is the widow Maria Varano. According to art critics (in particular, the Italianist Alexander Makhov), the idea of painting a portrait of Raphael was prompted by a chance meeting in the palace with the daughter of the “prefect” Giovanna Feltria - Maria. When Raphael arrived at Christmas from Florence and began painting the portrait, three widows lived in the palace. One of them is recognizable by the portrait of Emilia Pio (Baltimore, Museum of Fine Arts), painted by the young artist immediately after the portraits of the married couple of the rulers of Urbino appeared. Therefore, we can only talk about the widows Giovanna Feltria and her daughter Maria Varano, who at that time was twenty-six years old. There is a version that while posing Maria became ill and began to vomit. The artist handed the girl a glass of water. But what was hidden from the mother did not escape the artist. The interesting position of the young widow is the possible secret of the "Mute", which is hidden behind her pressed lips.

Whatever the rationale behind the creation of the painting "Mute", Raphael made a significant contribution to the tradition of Italian portraiture, which was brilliantly developed in the 15th century. "Mute" represents the end of the Florentine period of the artist's work, in which Plato's well-known principle of showing totus homo - a person in all his essential completeness, manifested itself. Raphael not only mastered the signature techniques of High Renaissance art such as sfumato, perspective, anatomical technique, genuine emotionality and expression. Raphael also incorporated an individual style into his canvases known for its clarity, rich color, laid-back composition and grandeur.