Adventures in Art History Art Adventures    

Lesson 8: Madonna of the Magnificat

by Sandro Botticelli

Directions

Study the painting for one week.

Over the week:

• Look at the painting.
• Read the synopsis.
• Study the vocabulary words.
• Read about the artist.
• Practice reciting the names of the artist and the painting.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Study the review questions.

Synopsis

Sandro Botticelli's 'Madonna of the Magnificat' shows the Madonna (Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus) holding baby Jesus and surrounded by wingless angels. Two of the angels place a golden crown of stars on Mary's head. Mary dips a pen into an inkwell, ready to write in an open book. The right side of the book shows the Magnificat, or the 'Song of Mary,' an ancient Christian hymn taken from the biblical Gospel of Luke. The left-hand page displays the 'Song of Zechariah,' also from the Gospel of Luke. Mary holds a pomegranate in her left hand, which may symbolize the story of Jesus' suffering and resurrection. The circular shape of the painting, common to the Renaissance, is known as 'tondo.' This tondo is enormous, and the figures are near life-size. Because of the size and lavish use of expensive gold paint, 'Madonna of the Magnificat' was the most expensive tondo painted by Botticelli.

Vocabulary

Inkwell: A container for ink.
Magnificat: A hymn or chant.
Hymn: A religious song or poem, typically of praise to God or a god.
Pomegranate: A fruit with a tough reddish outer skin and sweet red gelatinous flesh containing many seeds.
Tondo: A circular painting.

Concepts

Sandro Botticelli painted 'Madonna of the Magnificat.'

1. Botticelli was born in the mid-1440s in Florence, Italy. See his picture below.

2. Find Botticelli's country of birth on the map of Europe below.

3. The 1440s were a part of the early Renaissance-era. The Renaissance is a period in European history from the 1400s to the 1700, characterized by a wider availability of books to the general populace and the rebirth in learning in the arts, mathematics, and the sciences.
4. Botticelli first worked as an apprentice goldsmith and then as an apprentice painter.
5. By his forties, Botticelli earned the title of master painter.
6. Botticelli died in 1510 at the age of 64.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

During the week, study the painting and find the following:

• Baby
• Mary
• Crown
• Shining Light
• Wingless Angels
• River
• Hills
• Book

Activity 2: Narrate the Painting

• After studying the painting, narrate the scene shown in the painting aloud using your own words.

Activity 3: Complete Vocabulary Activities

• While studying the vocabulary words, point them out in the painting.
• Define each of the vocabulary words in your own words.

Activity 4: Act Out the Painting - Create a Crown

• One day this week, recreate the event showed by the painting.
• Cut strips of paper, decorate with markers or glitter, and tape or glue the strips into a circle to make a crown.
• Act out the angels crowning Mary.

Activity 5: Color the Painting   

• Click the crayon above, and complete page 13 of 'Kindergarten Art History Coloring Book.'

Review

Question 1

Who are the characters in the painting?

1 / 5

Answer 1

The baby Jesus, his mother Mary, and wingless angels.

1 / 5

Question 2

What is the setting of the painting?

2 / 5

Answer 2

Inside a building, next to a window.

2 / 5

Question 3

What are the angels placing on Mary's head?

3 / 5

Answer 3

A crown.

3 / 5

Question 4

What is Mary doing?

4 / 5

Answer 4

She holds the baby Jesus on her lap and a pomegranate. She dips a pen into ink to write into the open book.

4 / 5

Question 5

What do you see outside the window?

5 / 5

Answer 5

A meandering river, some hills, and the sky.

5 / 5

❮ ❯

1. Who are the characters in the painting? The baby Jesus, his mother Mary, and wingless angels.
2. What is the setting of the painting? Inside a building, next to a window.
3. What are the angels placing on Mary's head? A crown.
4. What is Mary doing? She holds the baby Jesus on her lap and a pomegranate. She dips a pen into ink to write into the open book.
5. What do you see outside the window? A meandering river, some hills, and the sky.

References

'Sandro Botticelli.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.