Throughout the years, art has become a way of life for many people. One person in particular who loved to flaunt his passion for art was the famous Michelangelo Caravaggio. Within one of his greatest works entitled, “Musicians” created in Rome for one of Caravaggio’s most important patrons, lies many underlying messages throughout the colors, contrasts, and figures painted on the piece of canvas. Within the art work, painted by the great Caravaggio, are four different figures each containing their own sense of importance. Towards the center of the painting sits a man holding an instrument representing music. He stares forward, forming a connection with the audience and wears a white piece of clothing which naturally represents God. His face shows no effort while he plays, almost like God is playing the music …show more content…
With this being said, he also has a dark red cloak draped over his shoulder, representing love, and a brighter face, all showing is dominance throughout the painting. To the right of him sits another man with his back towards the audience, giving off a sense of focus. He is studying a sheet of music so thoroughly, that the audience can clearly see how passionate he is about it. He too is dressed in bright, white clothing, giving off a sense of godliness. In essence, it as if God has given music to man to fulfill and bring joy to life. The contrast of colors between the clothing and the dark background shows that without music, life would be dark. While on the other hand, towards the back of the two musicians, sits an individual with his attention elsewhere. This figure has very little clothing on, wings, and is carrying a bow and arrow, much like Cupid who represents love. This specific figure was placed behind the man with
Howard Hibbard's Caravaggio is an insightful look into the troubled mind and life of one of the most discussed artists of all time, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. Hibbard immediately expands on his belief that Caravaggio is the most important "Italian painter of the entire seventeenth century." Furthermore, his paintings "speak to us more personally and more poignantly than any others of the time." Caravaggio is an artist whose life was far different from all other contemporary artists of his time, or any time. Unlike Annibale Carracci, Caravaggio's works were able to express many of his own feelings and emotions. As Hibbard says, Caravaggio was an artist who "somehow cut through the artistic conventions of his time right down to the universal blood and bone of life." Simply put, Caravaggio was the only Italian painter who was able to utilize his own emotion as his guide instead of the historical artistic tradition. This observation by Hibbard feels somewhat misleading. Clearly, the emotion of Caravaggio's works came out in full explosiveness throughout his years of painting. However, his lifestyle was so troubling that it seems to me that it would have been virtually impossible for him to prevent his life from entering his works. While it should be recognized that Caravaggio's emotion and difficult life is reflected in many of his paintings, it should also be noted that this may have been unintentional and only a side effect of his life. Here is a many who frequently got into trouble with law and killed at least one man in his lifetime. He was arrested almost countless times. Therefore, it seems unfair to me for Hibbard to describe Caravaggio as an ...
With the different styles of artists’ works planned to be showcased in this exhibition I hope viewers will be able to see what sorts of artworks were being done during the Renaissance that do not consist of works done by Michelangelo, da Vinci, Donatello, or Raphael. With a topic not usually covered when studying about Renaissance artist, I hope viewers will be able to not only learn about the interesting stories of famous Martyrdoms, but also learn about some of the lesser known Renaissance artists and their styles. Paintings of angles and landscapes from the Renaissance may look pretty but with these different and shocking pieces I hope to create an exhibition that will not soon fade away from visitor’s memories after they leave the National Gallery.
A historical artist I found interesting in the world of art is Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, commonly known as Caravaggio, an Italian artist in the Baroque Era (Ornate Age). Caravaggio was born on September 29, 1571 to his father Fermo Merisi and mother Luci Aratori in Milan, Lombardy. At the age of 11, he was orphaned due to the death of his parents and found work as an apprentice for a painter named Simone Peterzano for four years. During his years under Peterzano, he was influenced by the outside art works of Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and other Northern arts. In 1592 at the age of 21, he moved to Rome, Italy the center of where artists gathered to work for less skilled painters. During his time in Rome, Cardinal Francesco del
There are many Renaissance artists who had a large impact on what was then the
The painting depicts two figures, the one of a woman and of a man. The dominating central figure is the one of the woman. We see her profile as she looks to the left. Her hands are crossed in a graceful manner. She has blonde hair and her figure is lit by what seems to be natur...
In the contemporary art world, where artists bring interdisciplinary elements and combine them in a mixture of genius and creativity, three and two-dimensional pieces are by no means exclusive in nature. The Donni Tondo, Michelangelo Buonarroti's tempera on panel with oil flourishes, although characteristically High Renaissance, projects a legacy of exploration and growth that may appeal to contemporary artists whose artistic sensibilities favor the combination of artistic platforms. Michelangelo’s portrayal of The Holy Family embodies the essence of his artistic orientations, and provides us with a glimpse into the mind of such a multifaceted man. His genius and excellent craftsmanship seem to exhibit his artistic might and abilities in such a manner, as to demand respect and recognition in his young yet very successful career as a sculptor, as well as a painter. The Doni Madonna offers us insight into Michelangelo's artistic point of reference; not as the unapproachable and idealized genius, but as a growing artist.
This piece communicates what was valued most at this point in time. Christianity was at the center of life in fourteenth century Europe. So much so that these artist were commissioned to create these highly valued religious pieces most for private purposes ,so the people could have a relic or icon to worship in their homes. Specific artistic conventions had o be followed when creating these pieces. The monarchies ruled through the church. There was huge emphasis on the man and afterlife, To ensure eternal salvation man devoted their lives to spreading and commemorating the word of Christ.
In volume 1 of his “Lives of the Most Eminent Painters,” Giorgio Vasari says that Masaccio “first attained the clear perception that painting is no other than the close imitation of all the forms presented by nature” (Vasari 95). Before the time of Masaccio, many famous and brilliant painters lacked a basic sense of perspective and/or depth. Paintings such as Claude Monet’s Lavacour1, or Diovanni di Paolo’s St. John the Baptist going into the Wilderness2 were both beautiful and...
In Caravaggio’s most famous painting The Calling of Saint Matthew shows the moment that Jesus Christ calls upon Saint Matthew and inspires him to follow him. In most religious paintings, Jesus is glowing. Even if Jesus is not depicted in the middle of the painting, your focus leads to Jesus.
I chose “The Martyrdom of St. Matthew” as the painting that best illustrates the baroque period. The reasons surrounding my decision are clear in Caravaggio’s painting. Here Caravaggio uses the entire canvas to illustrate complexity, flow, and chiaroscuro. The painting depicts the source of lighting to be coming from the left side of the plane. The brightest light focuses directly on Matthew’s executioner who intends to strike Matthew with an old balcanic hand weapon. Caravaggio masterfully illustrates the use of lighting by casting believable shadows. As an example, the shadow of the handle on balcanic hand weapon reflects on the executioner’s left thigh and knee. Another shadow appears on the executioner’s right inner thigh. The lighting source to the left of the executioner, the executioner, St. Matthews, the boy, the 2 observer’s bottom, right, and the fainter lighting upper left of the canvas illustrates the technique of visual movement. The lighting is placed strategically, causing visual movement within the piece. For example, the illumination of the executioner’s forearm directs my attention to the angel who appears to be handing St. Matthew a palm leaf. As a result, my eyes then focuses on the body of St. Matthew, lying on the bottom of the altar, then my eyes shifts up toward the Angle’s arm. The lighting on the angel's arm contrasted with the darkness of the palm leaf forces the viewer to look at the hand to see what St. Matthew is reaching for. The boy fleeing the scene further draws in the viewer. The two adult observers at the bottom right of the painting are illuminated but not as bright as the two main characters. Next, my attention is drawn to the man lying on the bottom steps, left side of the canv...
The painting is of a young St. John the Baptist preaching to his congregation. St. John is an important figure in Catholicism not only for his preaching and baptisms in the River Jordan, but for his role as the last prophet and the forerunner of Jesus Christ. His preaching foretells the coming of Christ as the Messiah, and thereupon Christ’s baptism, the voice from Heaven told St. John that Jesus was God’s son. This piece by Calabrese captures John at the height of his oration. Fixed atop a decrepit tree trunk yet grappling for stability, John is shown here in his ascetic attire composed of camel hair, holding his staff and scroll bearing the words “Ecce Agnus Dei,” which translates into Beho...
This painting has deviated from the standard Renaissance model in that it goes beyond depicting subjects and scene, and employs exaggerated form, color emphasis, abnormal planar depiction, and visual directionality. The aspects of this painting have become the embodiment of the story told and the characters there held. The artist has used various techniques of color, line, and juxtaposition in order to portray an idea which supersedes the sum of its parts, and thereby leads the viewer through a thought.
The artists of the Baroque had a remarkably different style than artists of the Renaissance due to their different approach to form, space, and composition. This extreme differentiation in style resulted in a very different treatment of narrative. Perhaps this drastic stylistic difference between the Renaissance and Baroque in their treatment of form, space, and composition and how these characteristics effect the narrative of a painting cannot be seen more than in comparing Perugino’s Christ Delivering the Keys of the Kingdom to St. Peter from the Early Renaissance to Caravaggio’s Conversion of St. Paul from the Baroque.Perugino was one of the greatest masters of the Early Renaissance whose style ischaracterized by the Renaissance ideals of purity, simplicity, and exceptional symmetry of composition. His approach to form in Christ Delivering the Keys of the Kingdom to St.Peter was very linear. He outlined all the figures with a black line giving them a sense of stability, permanence, and power in their environment, but restricting the figures’ sense of movement. In fact, the figures seem to not move at all, but rather are merely locked at a specific moment in time by their rigid outline. Perugino’s approach to the figures’themselves is extremely humanistic and classical. He shines light on the figures in a clear, even way, keeping with the rational and uncluttered meaning of the work. His figures are all locked in a contrapposto pose engaging in intellectual conversation with their neighbor, giving a strong sense of classical rationality. The figures are repeated over and over such as this to convey a rational response and to show the viewer clarity. Perugino’s approach to space was also very rational and simple. He organizes space along three simple planes: foreground, middle ground, and background. Christ and Saint Peter occupy the center foreground and solemn choruses of saints and citizens occupy the rest of the foreground. The middle distance is filled with miscellaneous figures, which complement the front group, emphasizing its density and order, by their scattered arrangement. Buildings from the Renaissance and triumphal arches from Roman antiquity occupy the background, reinforcing the overall classical message to the
Carracci and Caravaggio had the intelligence and artistic talent to help sculpt the Baroque art movement they did this by forming their own unique art style, political ideology, and overall techniques that helped inspire painting for the next generation. Both of these men crafted their own techniques and styles that helped push genre painting into the Baroque normality in artwork. Genre painting is a form of painting that focuses on the everyday mundane life, and captures these moments, similar to a camera shot. Carracci focused more on the traditional idea of genre painting by capture what was going on in Rome in his works such as The Bean eater, and Two Children Teasing a Cat. While he did do altar paintings, Carracci also sketched outside,
Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel painting is one of the greatest pieces of art known to mankind. John Dixon, in his journal “Christology of Michelangelo,” breaks down in his articles the images that Michelangelo painted, he helps us understand why he painted them, in the order that he did, and what they mean. We will also look at how the Renaissance era influenced Michelangelo’s painting perspective on society and culture as described by Kimberly Abruzzo, in her text on “How the Renaissance Changed European Culture and Society.” The Sistine Chapel ceiling painting is one of Michelangelo’s greatest achievements, being a man of culture and influenced by his time, Michelangelo Sistine Chapel paintings reveals the value that his society of the