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To: Hoffer Rand
The “cherubs” (the correct word is puti, one putu, two puti) are painted as leaning on the top of Julius’ coffin.

Probably not intended to be Julius' coffin.

The painting was commissioned in 1512 by Pope Julius II in honor of his late uncle, Pope Sixtus IV. Its destination was the Benedictine basilica San Sisto in Piacenza, a church with which the Rovere family had a long-standing relationship.

http://arthistory.about.com/od/famous_paintings/ss/The-Sistine-Madonna-By-Raphael.htm

40 posted on 04/21/2015 11:32:25 AM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: thackney
No, although the cherubs are undeniably influence more by puti than by Ezekiel's symbolic description. Their purpose is to guard the Divine Presence within the Ark of the Covenant. They are featured in many paintings of the Blessed Virgin Mary with Christ to emphasize the Catholic interpretation that the Ark of the Covenant foretells the Blessed Virgin Mary bearing God in the form of Man.


48 posted on 04/21/2015 11:44:10 AM PDT by dangus
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