Similarities Between Italy And The Protestant Baroque In Northern Europe

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Unit 1 Essay
There are many differences in theatricality between the Catholic Baroque in Italy and the Protestant Baroque in Northern Europe. To illustrate this statement two artworks will be examined. One form the Catholic Baroque in Italy and one form the Protestant Baroque in Northern Europe. The painting that will be used to illustrate the differences for the Catholic Baroque Era is Caravaggio’s The Crucifixion of Saint Peter. This is a painting that was finished in 1601 and portrays Saint Peter being nailed to a cross. Not only does the actual painted image differ from paintings of the Protestant Baroques in Northern Europe, but also by how it was painted and the thoughts behind it. To understand and compare the differences for the Protestant …show more content…

They both show the typical characteristics of The Baroque style, (“Asymmetric compositions, strong contrasts of light and dark, vigorous brushwork, and bold illusionistic effects.” Fiero, 2011, p. 46) The differences begin to show when you start to study the time frame and location of when they are painted. The artists background also has a role to play with how they were painted, but the main differences that will be looked at are going to be from the differences in location. Caravaggio’s The Crucifixion of Saint Peter was painted in 1601 in Italy. Italy was where the Baroque style originated from and all other styles branched out from here. During this time art was a resemblance of rulers and the religious beliefs of the Catholics. Art was encouraged to teach those who observed about the bible and Catholic word. This shows in Caravaggio’s painting. He paints St. Peter that is nailed to a cross as three other men began to stand the cross up and crucify him upside down. Art of the Protestant Baroques in Northern Europe portray religious beliefs as well, but differ from the art of the Catholic Baroques in Italy. The way that religion was worshiped was much more humble in Protestant Baroques in Northern Europe. They were against the extravagant way that the Catholics worshiped. They defaced or destroyed many forms of art because of this and worshiped stories humbly. This is show shown in Rembrandt’s The Return of the Prodigal Son. In Rembrandt’s painting religion is portrayed, however it differs form the Caravaggio’s painting as paintings of the Protestant Baroques in Northern Europe illustrated more stories of morals, knowledge and instruction rather than images of idolatry. While the two paintings illustrate moments in religion the two are separated in which Italy wanted to have Jesus illustrated and the Protestants in the

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