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- Title
La Madonna del passero di Guercino. Problemi di esegesi visiva e simbolismo degli uccelli.
- Authors
Sorce, Francesco
- Abstract
This essay examines the Madonna of the Sparrow by Guercino, mostly from the iconographic point of view. The research is motivated by the fact that, in spite of the painting's fame, its symbolism and meaning have not received much attention in the literature so far. Therefore, in order to offer an interpretation of the image, we primarily focus on the motif of Christ Child holding a tethered bird in the Renaissance art and in the Guercino's catalogue. Secondly, this study explores the textual sources (Bible, Patristic literature, Medieval and Renaissance commentaries) that motif seems to stem from. Finally, we propose an explanation of the formal choices made by the author, which very likely aim at creating a peculiar visual exegesis of the literary tradition he draws on. The leading hypothesis advanced is that the painting embodies the idea that Divine Grace frees the soul from sin temptations.
- Publication
Il Capitale Culturale: Studies on the Value of Cultural Heritage, 2018, Issue 18, p85
- ISSN
2039-2362
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.13138/2039-2362/1986