Sacrifice And Love - Seth Liveringhouse

Cite:  Four Scenes from the First Book of Samuel

late 11th century

1975

National Gallery of Art. Medieval and Renaissance Miniatures from the National Gallery of Art. Washington, 1975.

1997

Richler, Martha. National Gallery of Art, Washington: A World of Art. London, 1997: 8

The story Federigo’s Falcon, is about the nature of giving and sacrificing for love.  The picture above represents the theme in the story because, the picture represents love, begging, and sacrifice.  Just like what the story represents.  In the picture above, the man with the in the middle row on the far right represents Federigo.  Federigo was a kind, but poor man who only wanted the love of his life to love him back.  He wanted his wish so much he actually gave up his beloved falcon, so he could feed the woman he loved.  This image fits the theme of the story because it shows begging,   The lady begging in the top left of the picture, and the same women in the middle row, represents Monna Giovanna in the story.  Monna is a young woman who is asked by her dying son to retrieve Federigo’s falcon for him.  Monna is a very kind, widowed mother who would do anything to save her son, like most mothers would.  Monna, taking advantage of Federigo’s love for her she goes to his home to ask for the falcon.  After not getting the falcon for her dying son she realizes she actually does love Federigo.  The young child in the picture, in the middle row represents Monna’s son. Monna’s son, in the story, is dying of some illness and thinks that if he had Federigo’s falcon, that he would get better.  Monna’s son eventually dies, never retrieving the falcon because Federigo cooked the falcon to feed to Monna.  This action by Federigo was a very great and risky action.  Federigo sacrificed his one love in his world for the woman he loved.  This is why this story teaches you that sometimes you must give or sacrifice something for someone else you love.