The Corsini Collection

This particular art is from the Renaissance and Baroque period of art history, and features the Corsini families personal collection of art work from artists including Botticelli, Andrea del Sarto, Caravaggio and Pontormo.

The Corsini family

Arriving in Florence in the 13^thCentury, with ancestors still living there today. Working mainly in banking and finance, including trading this is how the family developed their wealth (Kisler, Mary: 2017, Mackelvie Collection of International Art). They also worked in silk, and produced a family tree, tracing all the families development from the 13^thright up to 1995. Their wealth gave them an opportunity to develop a passionate affair for art, to serve as a reminder of their legacy depicting loyalty to Florence and the impact of WWII and the flood of Florence in 1966 (Auckland Art Gallery: 2018). Notable members of the Corsini family are from the Catholic church, which heavily influenced the style of art work purchased, these members include family saint Andrea Corsini, three cardinals and Pope Clement XII. The university of Florence was founded by Tommaso Corsini in 1348, and due to this, intellectually, politically,  and culturally influenced generations of society in Florence. Receiving this collection, that travels world-wide, signposts a capsule of both grandiose, and stately significance, to share with future generations, which makes the viewer appreciate how influential and impressive the individual art and family was, and continues to be. 

Madonna and Child with Six Angels circa 1500 

Painter: Sandro Botticelli 

Description: Tempera and oil on panel Florence, Galleria Corsini. 

Under the influence of the zealous friar Savonarola, Sandro Botticelli turned away from painting classical themes at the end of the 15th century to focus on the life of Christ. 

Here, the Madonna rests her cheek against her little son’s and
her eyes are closed, as if she is holding back tears. Two angels hold aloft a pearl-inlaid crown studded with sprigs of lilies, which symbolise the Virgin’s ultimate place at her son’s side as Queen of Heaven. First, though, she must accept that when he is an adult, he will sacrifice his life to save humanity. Two angels on the right gaze sadly at the instruments of Christ’s future Passion, while those on the left look out inviting us to share their sorrow (Auckland Art Gallery: 2017). 

Comments:

Two angels at the top are holding up a crown for he will be the future king. Another angel to the right is holding a thorny crown symbolising sacrifice for both the future king Christ and for his mother Madonna to give him up for others salvation. Regal colours are chosen for further emphasis in the palette, royal blue, for Madonna,  white for Christ and the angels for innocence and purity, red and gold for the higher class given to angels special status.  Although highly religious in context, the average person can also see the painting as symbolic of the attachment any mother feels for her child, and the need to let go, as a child becomes an adult.