Comparison of Raphael's and Bellini's Paintings of the Madonna and Child

The subject matter of Madonna and Child was a very popular one for artists of the sixteenth century. Raphael, and Giovanni Bellini both painted numerous versions of the Madonna and Child. While both of the artists viewed the subject as a religious and highly emotional expression, their portrayal of many other aspects differed greatly. While Raphael portrayed what seems to be a loving, warm relationship between mother and child, a lifelike Christ child, and serenity …

…that the Child is portraying. Bellini's paintings of the Child foretell the tragic future for which the Christ-child will live to experience. Although both artists viewed the subject of Madonna and the Child as a highly emotional expression, they each portrayed their contrasting views in their paintings. Raphael’s paintings portrayed a loving, warm relationship between mother and child while Bellini’s work portrayed the distant relationship and a deathlike image of the Christ child.