Student Voice

Angelo, Year 8 - member of the NGV Teen Council

Following is an extract from the latest edition of the NGV Magazine (#12):

Many people who visit galleries and museums early in their lives recount the memory with affection. For some, those visits create a lasting impact on their lives and careers.

The NGV Teen Council was established in 2017, supporting the engagement of teenagers and the NGV. The Council collaborates with NVG staff on events and programs for teens and leads exhibition tours for young people. Here, ... Teen Council member Angelo von Möller offers a unique perspective on a memorable artwork in the NGV collection.

Angelo Von Möller on Correggio's MADONNA AND CHILD WITH INFANT SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST C.1514-15 

"Madonna and Child with Infant Saint John the Baptist was painted by Correggio, who was revered as one of the most important artists of the Italian Renaissance.

My first impressions were that the artwork appeared to be more of a portrait of someone that Correggio cared for. Madonna and Child is contemporary in the sense that we are used to seeing many images of mothers and their children through social media and advertising. So I think it's relatable to young people in that way, however the execution is of the particular period. 

Other portrayals of the Madonna and Child from previous centuries were very flat and heavily gilded, but Correggio's version is more sensitive. After viewing this up close, I looked at the frame the work is in, which has the same motif throughout; an infant looking at the viewer and another carved child looking down onto the painting. It appears to be Saint John the Baptist, the same infant depicted in Correggio's painting. 

Something else I saw when I first looked at this artwork was the vibrant red clothing, suggesting warmth and love, and the pale blue fabric covering the Madonna suggesting calmness. The bush, or tree, behind Madonna gives the artwork depth and helps convey the story. A tree can represent life and growth in relation to the newborn child in a natural setting. 

The image of the Madonna and Child  has always evoked images of purity and religion, throughout the centuries. This artwork resonates with me because it reminds me of times when I was younger and growing up and visiting the stone cottage my family built, with timber beams, windows and old classical paintings, in the style of a nineteenth century church. I am quite drawn to history and things of the past, so I relate to it in that way. 

However, for someone else it may mean something entirely different."

Art party: join us on Saturday 22 September from 6-9pm at NGV International

Be a part of the teen takeover of the NGV during Art Party. Your ticket gets you exclusive after-hours access to the blockbuster exhibition MoMA at NGV: 130 Years of Modern and Contemporary Art alongside the opportunity to explore art and design, meet new people and enjoy live performances and DJ sets. Click here to book.