May 20, 2011 ~ Detroit Institute of Arts in Detroit MI ~ DIA # 71.1
ASSUMPTION OF THE VIRGIN
Giovanni Francesco Barbieri
By Linda Romanowski
ART 1560
I was drawn to the Assumption of the Virgin which is an oil on canvas painted in 1650 by Giovanni Francesco Barbieri. Giovanni uses a strong and bold baroque style with spacious placement of his humanistic angels in this painting. His use of vibrant blues and reds bring classic gracefulness to this masterpiece. His use of turns and angling of the faces and bodies of the angels entice me to study this painting and follow the flow and direction upwards with the flowing clouds. The Virgin is illuminated however graceful and peaceful as she ascends upward with dignity. Noticing the faces of the male angels, they appear to have very similar facial features and hair color as well as texture. My mind wonders if this is Jesus. Jesus was her son, God’s son, a symbol of love, hope, life, peace, spirituality and moral values. It appears to me that these Heavenly angels are in flight assisting the Virgin Mary on her delivery to her final resting place. This artwork has the ability to teach without words.
Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, an Italian, painted an oil on canvas titled it Assumption of the Virgin. This framed Italian religious and spiritual masterpiece has the dimensions of 133 ½ x 99 ¼ x 4 in. (339.1 x 252.1 x 10.2 cm) 121 ¼ x 86 ½ in. (308.0 x 219.7 cm) with a weight of 230 pounds. Credit is due to the Founders Society Purchase, the Robert H. Tannahill Foundation Fund and the Josephine and Erenst Kanzler, Fund. Assumption of the Virgin is now proudly displayed at the Detroit Institute of Arts, Accession Number 71.1.
The Assumption of the Virgin was originally painted for an unidentified church or monastery in Naples; Luton Hoo, collection of 3rd Earl of Bute who likely acquired it in 1750’s. A descent the 6th Marquess of Bute of 1971 was
Cited: OCC Library Resources. “Guercino.” CAMIO, 2010. Web. 31 May 2011. <http://camio.oclc.org.portal.oaklandcc.edu/cdm4/results.php?CISOOP1=all>. "Guercino." International Dictionary of Art and Artists. Gale, 1990. Gale Biography In Context. Web