Essay Instructions: Compare the three works in terms of form, content, and subject matter. Using the terminology and concepts that you have learned in the course, explain the similarities and differences in the styles of the works and the context in which they were made.
Compare and contrast their aesthetic qualities and symbolic significance, as well as the artists? points of view. Your personal point of view that you have developed throughout the paper will be summarized here. As with the preceding three sections, you will write in your own words, supported by research.
Below is my paper as it is right now.
A study of Baroque Art
Dawn Romero
Huma205-1203A Art Appreciation Unit 5 IP
Abstract
The elements of this paper compare and contrast Baroque artists Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio?s Conversion of Saint Paul, Artemisia Gentileschi?s Judith Slaying Holofernes, and Peter Paul Rubens? Elevation of the Cross. The essay includes the description and style of the works, the artist?s philosophies of the artwork, trends and schools of thought, and how the works fit into the context of the time period. A comparison of the three pieces will be made as well as some of the differences in the style of the works and the context in which they were made.
Introduction
The style of Baroque art ran from 1600-1700 and echoed the religious pressures of the period. The meaning of Baroque comes from the Portuguese term ?barocco? which means irregular pearl or stone. The desire of the Catholic Church in Rome wanted to reaffirm itself because of the Protestant Reformation. Many of the Royal Courts of France, Spain and other places commissioned a large number of paintings, architectural designs, and sculptures because they needed to strengthen their political positions by glorifying their own divine grandeur. In comparison, Baroque art in Protestant Dutch areas were less religious and were intended to appeal to middle classes. Michelangelo?s The Conversion of Saint Paul, Artemisia Gentileschi?s Judith Slaying Holofernes, and Peter Paul Rubens? Elevation of the Cross reflect a rich, diverse period of art when religious practices and beliefs, social turmoil and politics prevailed; reflecting lines, tones, movement of figures, loose brushstrokes, and dramatic colors were definitive during the baroque period of art.
Conversion of Saint Paul
Michelangelo Merisi (1573-1610), also known as Caravaggio named after the northern Italian town in Lombardy that he came from, created a new style of painting that had remarkable influence all over Europe (no author, Caravaggio, 2001). Michelangelo despised the classical masters drawing tremendous criticism from many of his fellow artists. Giovanni Pietro Bellori was an influential critic that felt Caravaggio?s refusal to immolate his predecessors would threaten the tradition of Italian painting. Caravaggio was arrogant, rebellious and a murderer and his stormy life channeled into the drama of his works. His paintings were provocative, well liked, and very influential over generations of painters throughout Europe (www.artlex.com). At the age of 21 he moved to Rome and in 1595 he received his first commissions. In the Conversion of Saint Paul, he used perspective and a chiaroscuro so he could bring in as close as possible to scene?s action and space. This piece was painted for the Cerasi Chapel in the Roman Church of Santa Maria del Popolo (www.artlex.com). The low horizon line gives the sense of inclusion for the viewer and the presentation on the chapel wall was low at the viewer?s eye level. The light on the figures seems to come from an unknown source at and is meant for the figures to be moving from the dark side of the background. The contrast of dark and light was a feature of Caravaggio?s style that was shocking at first but then fascinated his peers. The use of the dark settings that enveloped their occupants had an influence in European art. The light used in this piece is a blinding flash that symbolized Paul?s conversion (Frank, 2011). Caravaggio used light and darkness and the use of radical chiaroscuro created a sense of emotional realism that was too strong for some of the people.
Judith Slaying Holofernes
The artist Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1653) was greatly influenced by Caravaggio?s naturalism and drama. She was the daughter of a well-known artist Orazio Gentileschi (Frank, 2011). She was one of the first of women artists to receive recognition in the male-dominated world of art. She received her early training from her father, the art academies rejected her because she was a woman so she studied under a friend of her father, Agostino Tassi. Tassi later raped Artemisia and her father brought a lawsuit against him (www.artlex.com). After the humiliation she endured her paintings reflected her physical and psychological pain. Her style was heavily influenced by dramatic realism and may have painted this piece after her rape. Judith was a Jewish widow of noble rank and lived in Bethulia, a town under siege by the Assyrian general Holofernes. She went to his tent to captivate him with her beauty. After having a feast with a lot of wine he passed out and that is when Judith and her maid Abra sieged the opportunity to kill Holofernes by decapitating him with his sword. This story pictures Judith as Judaism in victory over their pagan enemy. This work is definitive of the Baroque style of painting with it?s use of bold warm colors, intense light, melodramatic gestures of blood spurting everywhere and the strength required is evident with two women struggling with the sword. She made several versions of this scene from the bible probably because of the turmoil she experienced with her rape.
The Raising of the Cross
Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) was a creative seventeenth-century Flemish Baroque painter who?s style emphasized color, movement and sensuality. Rubens was born in Germany but later he and his family fled to Antwerp because of the religious turmoil and persecution of Protestants during the rule of the Spanish (www.artlex.com). Religion played a big role in his artwork. At age fourteen he began his artistic apprenticeship with Verhaeght. Of course like many apprentices he learned by copying earlier artists. He became Master at age 21 in 1608. In the 1600?s he traveled to Italy to study. Upon hearing of his mother?s sickness he moved back to Antwerp, but arrived too late, his mother had already passed away. In 1611 he was commissioned by the Church Saint Walburga to make The Raising of the Cross as an alter piece. This piece, a triptych reveals his interest in Italian art. The scene brings together the tremendous straining of muscles struggling to lift the cross as well as counter forces. This violent action is reminiscent of Michelangelo?s work. The body of Christ is put at a dramatic diagonal angle cutting across the picture plane. The whole scene depicts power and the tension is emotional as well as physical. The strong use of light and dark maximizes the drama unfolding.
Conclusion
In conclusion all three artists were great examples of Baroque art. The use of warm and bold colors, dramatic movement and the use of darkness and light were present in all three pieces of work. They are very emotional and in some form they connect to the artist and portray the theme of Religion.
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References
001. "Caravaggio." Monkeyshines On Art & Great Artists 34. MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed June 2, 2012).
Frank, P. (2011). Artforms (10th ed.). Prentice Hall. (Original work published
2002)
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, www.nationalgallery.org (n.d.). Retrieved June 25, 2012, from http://www.artlex.com
