Thank you, Vessie; you are very kind. And your appreciation is correct. It is very, very beautiful.

Best Wishes,

Luis Miguel Goitizolo

Dear Sarah,

Thank you for your kind words. It is always a pleasure that you visit this forum. And I am very glad that you find solace in looking at the Madonna.

You are correct in your appreciation of other Madonnas. For whatever reason, even Raphael in his youth painted a few that are frankly harsh. Later on, however, he would paint several that are a model of beauty for all times.

The links to some of them have been included among his other paintings in this forum.

But there are more, like his Madonna of Loreto (Madonna del Velo) and, most specially, his Madonna with the Blue Diadem.

Thank you again,

Luis Miguel Goitizolo

Dear Phil,

It is thanks to wonderful responses like this one of yours that I feel rewarded for what little effort I put into these forums. So the time I spend on preparing them is never wasted.

There where several beautiful paintings by Raphael that I felt inclined to present today before I finally decided on the Madonna of the Chair; among them, my first favorite was a portrait by him that I have always found so very special that I feel this forum would be incomplete without it.

So I am happy to end my reply to you with the beautiful image below.

Best Wishes,

Luis Miguel Goitizolo

La Donna Velata ("Woman with a Veil")

Hi Luis,

I also had a long absence from my forum, sometimes we need to take a break.  Good luck this week in the POTW election, I voted for you!

Raphael's paintings are very realistic and luminous.  The Italian Masters have similar styles.

Hi Kathleen,

Thank you so much for your kind words. I am sure you are a lot more missed by the readers at your forums than I am at mine, but I appreciate your comment. Thank you very much about the POTW contest too; you are so nice.

On the other hand it's true, Raphael used to teach some Iyalian Mannerists and as such can be said to be the first Mannerist. His painting is superbly realistic and luminous and in the use of ciaroscuro he may be compared to the great Leonardo. 

Best Wishes,

Luis Miguel Goitizolo