Madonna of the Chair
Many years after, Bernardo died. By that time the oak was so old it seemed as if it would fall over and break the other trees near it, or maybe hurt somebody. So it was cut down, and Mary's father had it made into fine new barrels. By this time the little Mary had grown up, was married, and had two fine boys of her own. She was sitting out on the nice big porch of her home one day, holding the baby in her arms, when the older boy came running to her to show her a stick which one of the workmen had carved into a cross. And who should happen to be passing the house at that very moment but the great artist, Raphael.
When he looked up and saw the lovely mother and her children, he thought he had never seen anything so beautiful. He was on his way home after a long walk, and did not even have his paints with him. But he saw the empty barrels in the yard, and choosing one with a nice smooth head, he drew on it, with a piece of charcoal, a picture of Mary and her children. He took the drawing home with him and painted this great picture. So the old man's wish came true, for this barrel end made from the old oak tree, with the picture of Mary and her children upon it, has become famous over all the world.
Such a round-faced, healthy, happy-looking baby, held tight in the loving clasp of his mother's strong arms! Perhaps he is getting tired of sitting so long for his picture, and wants to go down and see what the artist is doing. His chubby little arms and feet make us think he is not sitting very still. His lovely mother bends her head toward him. Her head is covered with a handkerchief, and there is such a beautiful shawl around her shoulders. The older boy looks with love and adoration at his sweet baby brother, who is looking toward us. What a beautiful old carved chair they must have been sitting in!
The mother's face was so good and kind, and she looked so lovely there on the porch with her children, that she reminded Raphael of that other mother, Mary, the mother of the baby Jesus. The elder brother looked like the little St. John adoring Jesus. So Raphael painted a halo around their heads and called the picture the "Madonna of the Chair." This halo is a ring of light which artists often paint around the heads of angels and saints. Raphael wanted to make us think loving and tender thoughts about the baby Jesus, Mary, and St. John.
Questions to help the pupil understand the picture. Who was Bernardo? Where did he live? What did he do? Why did he not cut down the oak tree near his house? To whom did he talk? How did the oak tree seem to answer him? Who was Mary? Tell about the storm. How long did it last? Who came in search of Bernardo? Why did he pray that his two friends might be remembered together? What became of the oak tree? of Mary? Who painted her picture? Where was she? On what did the artist paint the picture? why? Why is the picture round? How did this make Bernardo's wish come true? Of whom did Mary and her children make the artist think? Why did he paint the halo around their heads? What is a halo? Why is the picture called the "Madonna of the Chair"? Of whom did the artist want to make us think?
To the Teacher: Have the children retell the story of the picture.
The story of the artist. Raphael's father was a painter, and belonged to a family of painters. Perhaps there never was a more fortunate little boy born to more loving parents. And perhaps that, too, is the reason he grew up with such pleasant ways and such a sweet nature that every one who knew him loved him. It made people happy just to be with him.