Look at the hidden faces in the clouds and Boticelli-like trees with faces. There is no end to the symbolism and hidden meaning in this painting, which “opens up” over time like a fine wine. Minerva rushes in with a spear in hand to expel these malformed vices from the courtyard or swamp-just in the nick of time, as a centaur was about to rape Diana the goddess of hunting and fertility. Two men, one with breasts, carry the third wearing a crown with a look of stupidity and drunkenness. The three vices personified by three fat awkward men on the lower right are avarice, ingratitude, and ignorance. Sexual desire is one of many vices to be expelled. This epic painting would serve as a triumphant reminder that those feelings are “wrong” in the light of dogma and should heroically be expelled! You’ll often read about or watch TV series spelling out the sexual pestilence of the Italian Renaissance within noble families, which is likely accurate. Poussin captures this all beautifully in Italian Renaissance fashion.Īndrea Mantegna | 1500-2 | Oil on Canvas | Dept of Paintings, Room 371Īndrea Mantegna’s depiction of Minerva Expelling the Vices from the Garden of Virtue is a truly epic painting full of symbolism and action, which is why it makes my list. Right or wrong, they took what they needed and made up for it later. This harsh mentality would become intertwined with Roman pragmatism throughout the empire’s growth. The significance of the story is that the empire began with pain and wrong-doing as a means to an end. The women would give birth to the second generation of Roman sons who would perpetuate the longest-lasting and arguably the greatest empire in European history. On Romulus’s signal, who is painted with a red cape and gold armor, the Romans abducted the Sabine women to take them for their wives. Romulus, the first King of Rome, decided to throw a party and invite the nearby tribes, which were heavily attended by the Sabine people. The Romans had a shortage of women and none of the nearby tribes would assimilate out of fear of the Romans growing too strong. Poussin’s version of it is a testament to the artists’ love for Rome and one of the most famous versions of the scene ever painted. The Rape of the Sabine Women is possibly the most famous story in Roman history other than the murder of Julius Caesar. He was born in Normandy and schooled in France, but lived most of his adult career in Rome, which he adored. Nicolas Poussin was an Italian from another mamà. Nicolas Poussin | 1637-38 | Oil on Canvas | Richelieu Wing, Room 828 The work is an artist making a considerable attempt to reinvent art and break it out of its box. This painting is the first on my list because it’s part of an arts resurgence and the reason why the Sistine Chapel, Mona Lisa, Last Supper, and Liberty Leading the People would come to exist. The chapel brought art one step closer to the Renaissance, which produced some of the world’s most famous artwork-much of which is in the Louvre. Giotto would go on to fresco the Scrovengi Chapel, which was full of color and told an immense story. Notice that Giotto’s figures interact more with one another, show a bit of emotion, and weave a slightly more passionate story. Francis of Assisi Receiving Stigmata and you can easily compare it to the other Byzantine art in the same room of the Louvre. This theme would become the backbone of the Renaissance. Giotto introduces figures with more emotion that interact with one another and tell a defined story. Francis of Assisi Receiving Stigmata is not actually the last Byzantine painting ever painted, but it is the beginning of the end of this art style. If you’ve seen one Byzantine painting, then you’ve seen them all, which is why I admittedly celebrate the last one ever painted. You can easily identify Byzantine art as it relies heavily on gold leaf, as seen above. The art style relies on “stiff” figures who lack emotion. If you’re familiar with the Byzantine art style, you may agree that it can be a little boring. Giotto di Bondone | 1295 – 1300 | Tempura on Wood | Denon Wing, Room 708 Wikicommons – Giotto di Bodone – Jaconde Database
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |