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Nativity
Magi
Adoration by Cristoforo
Roncalli called Il Pomarancio
Pomarancio (1553-1626)
Adorazione dei Magi (1605-1610)
Pinacoteca Civica
Ancona
The
painting is part of the Conti Marcinforte di Ancona collection. It should
date back from 1605 to 1610.
The
painting does not betray the education of the artist. He was in fact
subject to the influence of Seventeenth century Mannerism shadowed by an
academism typical of Raffaello and Barocci, an artist from Le Marche.
The
composition was studied according to a modern language: The traditional
hut was replaced by a series of steps whose summit there is a chair on
which the Madonna and the Infant are leaned. Behind the Holy Virgin a
solid and strong column rises from the ground: The antiquarial reference,
much dear to Mannerism, bears the seed of the symbolism related to Holy
Mary. She is in fact a weight bearing column of the Church founded by
Jesus Christ.
The
scene is crowded by colourful characters that contribute to determine a
positively active movement that is opposite to the quiet motions of the
main characters on focus: The Magio on the left kneels at the Infant feet
and stares astatically the Holy couple and holds a bronze vase decorated
with Roman style chains. He is characterized by the traditional token in
gold. He also owns a crown that is held by a child at his back. Also the
most ancient Magio is attended by a child that does not pay attention to
what is happening.
According
to an iconography dating back to the IV century, that derivates from an
ivory kept as a treasure at the Cathedral in Milan, the hoary Magio is
kneeling and leans towards Jesus to kiss his feet: submission to Christ is
total and unconditioned. In front of the King of kings there is no power
or powerful person that does not kneel with humility.
We
can see the third Magio in the background characterized by a pink turban
and crown: his dark complexion reminds us of the symbolic motif of the
connexion between the Magi and the three continents known at the time:
Europe, Asia and Aftrica.
The
chromatic choice is mainly based on yellow, red and blue. The light operates
as a diversification of nuances and to give a continuum to the tale.
by
Sara Tassi
Translated
by Guendalina Santini
for Paradise
Possible
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2007Liberation Ventures Ltd.
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