Trevor Ferguson
Semester Paper
Art App.1020WI
Caravaggio and Religion Michelangelo Merisi Caravaggio was an esteemed Italian baroque artist whom, through his art, established various human connections to religion and his art by humanizing the holy scenes that he would depict. Caravaggio was born in 1571 in Milan where he trained as a painter before relocating to Rome. Over the years, Caravaggio had mastered his skills as an artist, using techniques such as tenebrism and chiaroscuro to become one of the most famous painters in Rome and eventually, the father the baroque artistic movement through his many contributions and influences. Caravaggio’s works, Judith Beheading Holofernes, Madonna di Loreto, and The Taking of Christ are all
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Color is also a major significant contributor to the overall feel of the artwork and in this work of art, there aren’t very many colors being used; a crimson red is used to highlight a small portion of the drapes in the background, as well as, the rivulets of blood coming from the man’s neck and soaking down into the sheets (Camara). Caravaggio’s representation of the scene in this work of art places a large emphasis on the overall dramatic and human connection we are able to form with the biblical scene. Take for example, the moment in time of this scene that Caravaggio decided to capture. Rather than depicting Judith (women with sword) holding the severed Assyrian general’s head afterwards, Caravaggio picked the moment that was the most tense and climactic so that we’re filled with those emotions as well. Furthermore, the expression of fear and agony in Holofernes’ face (figure 1) does well to establish a human connection with him through the overall realism of the artwork. Judith’s expression conveys her determined attitude and perhaps even some disgust or remorse. After careful examination of this work of art, The Beheading of Holofernes, it’s quite clear that Caravaggio’s intentions were to fill us with an overwhelming sense of intensity and drama while also allowing us to connect with the religious scene on a human level. Caravaggio’s
Michelangelo’s art, which relied heavily on the human body reflected the Renaissance Period’s interest in humanism and the individual experience. Michelangelo often studied the human anatomy, and even looked at and dissected corpses. Great examples of this are two of his earlier sculptures; the Pietå and the David, revealed his true talent and also his disposition to bend rules of anatomy and proportion i the service of greater expressive power. His ability to portray humans in the Renaissance Period, which was his great talent, showing the values of the period though his sculptures and paintings, which appealed to the people of this period. Arguably his most well known work, the painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, which was painted to show humanity’s need for salvation offered by God through Jesus.
1597-98). The heroic moment of Judith’s courage to as she beheads the general Holofernes is frozen onto the canvas. Instead of mathematical conventions, form is shown through dramatic tonal rendering, and contrast between the 3 figures and the darkness of the background. Similar to a photograph of a stage play. Caravaggio’s focus on the quality of the subject is the main story-telling factor. Holofernes’ mixed facial expression shows the remaining aspects of shock and panic as if there is still one final breath of life within him as his neck is being cut. However, the clear focus is on Judith herself who, standing relatively far away from the General whom she is beheading, has an unmistakably disgusted facial expression as if she wants to end the act with haste. The overall horrific atmosphere is amplified by the curtain behind the figures, it is the same colour as the blood that is shooting out from Holofernes’ neck, a visual representation to the violent act but also the Judith’s bravery and determination to save her hometown. The clear exaggeration of the blood, and theatrical style is typical of the Baroque visual
In this artwork, the moment of the beheading itself, those things painted are display in a flat stage, emphatically lit from the margin, segregated against the dark, shadowy background. Judith and Abra, who was her maid and stand to the right in the picture, partly over Holofernes, who was susceptible on his back. During the creation, Caravaggio adjusted the position of Holofernes' head as he proceeded, isolating it slightly from the middle and moving it marginally to one side, which was uncovered by X-rays (Bissell, 2005). His mastery of feeling and emotion was demonstrated by the faces of those characters, Judith was specifically appearing in her face a mix of repulsion and determination. Artemisia Gentileschi and other artists were profoundly influenced by this work, and even surpassed Caravaggio's physical authenticity, but it has been contended that none matched his catch of Judith's mental inner conflict (Varriano,
In both paintings, the artists use people to help create the mood of the scene. In Moretto’s Entombment, Moretto depicted each figure with his or her own unique emotion. Saint John the Evangelist (lower left) looks towards Christ with a gaping mouth as if he still can’t believe this is happening. He also holds Christ’s arm like he wants to help in some way but he knows that he can not. Nicodemus (upper left) definitely looks the least emotional of the group but that may be because his beard hides some emotion. Moretto angled Nicodemus’s body toward Christ as if he was trying to help, but restrained himself . Nicodemus also clenches the crown of thorns towards his chest shows in order to show the viewer his grief. Mary (above Christ) looks saddened but also in deep thought. Her eyes wander off into the sky looking at something that we can not see. I think Moretto did this in order to hint to us that Mary foresaw this event and knew that it was part of a greater picture. Joseph of Arimathaea (upper right) has his body turned away slightly, causing him to twist his neck giving us the impression that the event is too terrible for
In the year of 1571, Caravaggio was born in Italy. At age 11, Caravaggio was orphaned, luckily he was apprenticed with a painter in Milan. His work became popular when he moved to Rome. Caravaggio's work became popular for the “tenebrism technique he used, which used shadow to emphasize lighter areas” (“Caravaggio”). This painting tells a biblical story about Judith Beheading Holofernes. In the picture, Judith is the women in the middle that is about to behead Holofernes, the man lying on the bed. The reason why she is doing this because she is saving her people from Holofernes. The women on the far left is Judith’s maid waiting for her to behead Holofernes (Judith Beheading Holofernes, 1599 by Caravaggio). Caravaggio used many elements
Caravaggio’s, however, was darker and more dramatic. Caravaggio started an intense style called tenebrism. Tenebrism is a more prominent form of chiaroscuro, where there are vehement contrasts between light and dark. Fred Kleiner best describes Caravaggio’s style, “In his art, Caravaggio injected naturalism into both religion and the classics, reducing them to human dramas played out in the harsh and dingy settings of his time and place” (Kleiner, 681). Caravaggio painted during the Italian Baroque in the 1600’s. Italian Baroque artists like Caravaggio embraced theatricality and extravagant ornamentation, while Renaissance artists focused more on precise classical models. Now Caravaggio wasn’t exactly an upstanding member of society, most of what the art world knows about him is through his police reports. Caravaggio’s Entombment was created in 1603 and, like Giotto’s Lamentation, depicts the death of Jesus. While they both depict the same religious scene and use styles that are new for their time, Caravaggio’s painting has some drastic differences from Giotto’s. Caravaggio’s painting is oil painted on canvas, which gives Caravaggio the opportunity to be more detailed in his painting than Giotto can with fresco. Caravaggio creates these intense dramatic scenes of diagonals and intense movement. Unlike Giotto, Caravaggio uses linear perspective to direct his viewer’s attention to the body of Jesus. Caravaggio does this by using a diagonal cascade of mourners descending towards Jesus’ body. Inclusively, Caravaggio started a darker, more dramatic movement that gave naturalism a new realistic element.
During the Baroque Ages a man by the name of Caravaggio was a very prominante artist,
Michelangelo Merisi; also known as Caravaggio was a historical painter that can be traced back to Northern Italy. He was born on September 28th, 1571 in a town called Milan. At an early age, Michelangelo would flee with his family to Caravaggio to escape a plague that devastated their hometown. This was a major aspect in his life as he would soon be known by that name. Both his father and grandfather would pass away there just a few years later, coincidentally on the same day. It is believed that his family had close connections with the Sforzas which were a ruling class group in Italy at the time. They ended up playing a major part in the following years. Merisi was a man filled with intersecting personalities. During his early ages, he was a well trained painter.
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio better known as simply Caravaggio was an Italian Baroque master painter born in Italy around 1571. After he apprenticed with a painter in Milan, he moved to Rome, where he lived for most of his life. His work influenced painters around Europe. He’s most known for his gruesome subjects and use of Tenebrism, which was a technique that used heavy shadow to
Michelangelo (1475-1564) was arguably the greatest artist during the Italian Renaissance period. His talents included sculpting, painting and architect, just to name a few. Michelangelo’s s most popular work was his Pieta and David sculptures and Sistine Chapel ceiling paintings. His works have been carefully preserved over the years for future generations to see his amazing work.
Michelangelo Buonarroti lived in a time when the medieval aspects of Christianity were overwhelmed by the upheaval of the Reformation. His art portrays this change in religious philosophy by discerning the major trends and objectives of the Renaissance. "His works show us...the changing world around him" (Richmond 4). In addition, Michelangelo seriously impacted generations of artists to come.
Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, known as Michelangelo, was born in March 6, 1475, Caprese Michelangelo, Italy. His father`s name was Leonardo di Buonarroti Simoni and his mother`s name was Francesca Neri. Together they had five children, one of the son was Michelangelo and they returned to Florence when he was just an infant. Michelangelo lived almost all his life in Rome, where he died in 1564, with 88 years old.This important figure was an italian sculptor, painter, architect, poet, and engineer of the High Renaissance. Since his mother got sick, he was placed with a family of stonecutters. He was more interested about watching the painters nearby the church, and drawing what he saw there than with the school. Francesco Granacci
The story behind this painting is a Biblical tale about a strong heroine named Judith, who was known for her bravery and resistance against the Assyrian troops that come to assume control over her people. In this story, Judith uses her wit and seduction to ease her way into the Assyrian troops' camp and continue with a genius plan to execute the Assyrian General, Holofernes. She seduces him, and once he is drunk, beheads him in his own tent, with his own soldiers all around him oblivious (Branch). Judith was able to defeat the enemy and resist what could have been the end of many Israelites' lives. Cranach's choice suggested a political resistance that required a bravery similar to that of Judith's. Small details in the painting such as the bodice of the dress and Judith's jewelry show Cranach's love for a decorative surface, as well as the
Michelangelo Merisi was one of the most revolutionary artists of European art. He was born in Milan, Caravaggio on September 29th, 1571.
In this essay, I will discuss the startling differences between two depictions of the story of Judith and Holofernes. “Judith with the Head of Holofernes”, 1495, created by Andrea Mantegna, is a small-scale painting that was completed during the Renaissance. The second is a Baroque painting, “Judith Slaying Holofernes”, c.1620 by Artemisia Gentileschi and is on a larger scale than the version created by Mantegna. Both artworks take inspiration from the religious story that appears in the Catholic editions of the Bible. The story is about a young widowed Jewish woman, by the name of Judith, who murdered an enemy army general, Holofernes, to spare her people from death. I will compare and contrast how the scene has been depicted in rather different ways by each of the artists and the influencing factors that contributed to the overall outcome of both works. I will also be discussing how form and naturalism are portrayed between the two paintings, use of colour, symbolism and religion, as well as the Renaissance and Baroque eras.