Oddi Altarpiece (Raphael) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The crowning of the Virgin (Oddi altar)
Artist	Raphael
Year	1502-1504
Type	Oil on wood, transferred to canvas when brought to Paris 1797
Dimensions	267 cm × 163 cm (105 in × 64 in)
Location	Vatican Pinacoteca, Vatican City

The Oddi Altarpiece is a famous painting created by the Italian artist Raphael between 1502 and 1504. It is also known as the "degli Oddi altarpiece." An altarpiece is a work of art, often a painting or sculpture, placed behind the altar in a church.

This painting shows the Coronation of the Virgin, which is a scene where the Virgin Mary is crowned as Queen of Heaven. Raphael painted it for the Oddi family's chapel in the church of San Francesco al Prato in Perugia, Italy.

Later, in 1797, the altarpiece was taken to Paris for the Musée Napoleon. But in 1815, it was returned to Italy. Instead of going back to Perugia, it was placed in the Vatican Pinacoteca, where you can see it today.

A woman named Leandra Baglioni, who was the widow of Simone degli Oddi, asked Raphael to paint this altarpiece. The Oddi family was an important family in Perugia at that time.

The Crowning of the Virgin Painting

This painting tells a story in two parts, one above and one below.

Heavenly Scene

In the top part of the painting, you can see a beautiful scene in heaven. The Virgin Mary is being crowned by Jesus. Angels are around them, playing music to celebrate this special moment.

Earthly Scene

Below, on Earth, the apostles are gathered around an empty tomb. This tomb belonged to Mary. The painting shows her body was taken up to heaven without any decay.

Saint Thomas is holding a special item: a belt that Mary dropped down to him. This belt was a sign that she had truly been taken up to heaven. All the saints in the painting are looking up, watching the amazing scene in heaven.

The Predella Panels

The predella is the long, narrow section at the very bottom of an altarpiece. It often shows smaller scenes related to the main painting. The predella for the Oddi Altarpiece is 39 cm tall and 190 cm wide.

It has three smaller paintings, each about 27 cm tall and 50 cm wide. These panels show important moments from the life of the Virgin Mary:

Predella Panels
Annunciation	Adoration of the Magi	Presentation at the Temple

• The Annunciation: This panel shows the moment when the angel Gabriel tells Mary that she will give birth to Jesus.
• The Adoration of the Magi: This scene depicts the Three Wise Men, also known as the Magi, visiting the baby Jesus and offering him gifts.
• Presentation at the Temple: This painting shows Mary and Joseph presenting baby Jesus at the Temple in Jerusalem, as was the custom.

See also

• List of paintings by Raphael