Unit 3 Art Appreciation Paper

Donna Seiling
American Intercontinental University
Unit 3 Individual Project
Art Appreciation
March 14, 2013

Abstract
The Baroque was a strong time of great art. The lighting and drama worked well with the style from the Renaissance period. Most of the influence came from the bible and religious background.

From the Baroque Period through the Romantic Age
Baroque Period

The Baroque era was from 1600-1770. The style from this period took techniques from the Renaissance era and added drama and emotion. Another style artists added was the range of light, accenting a focus point.
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio painted The Conversion of Saint Paul which is an oil on canvas. This painting was 100 ½” x 69” in which Michelangelo
painted from 1600-1601. The man on the ground accented in the light is obvious to the viewer is Saint Paul. “The Church reaffirmed the mysteries of the sacraments, glorified the saints, and encouraged the arts as aids to prayer” (Frank, 2011). The drama is seen with the horse and him throwing his hands in the air. This is the first of its era, showing the techniques which fit the Baroque era. In 1600 Caravaggio by request painted 2 pieces for the new chapel in Santa Maria del Popolo in Rome along with 3 other famous artists. Out of the 4 Caravaggio has the most modern approach (Boston College, 2011). “The painting represents the moment when Saul (later to be renamed Paul) is on the road to Damascus to carry out a persecution of the young Christian community. He has a vision as Christ calls out to him” (Boston College, 2011) The styles within this period use styles from the Renaissance period. This art shows similarities to Michelangelo’s works but one of the distinct tell tales of Baroque era is the use of lighting and accents on St. Paul and Chris. Peter Paul Ruben painted The Raising Cross which is an oil on panel. This painting was 181.89” x 133.46” which Ruben painted from 1610-1611. This painting portrays the famous story from the Bible of Jesus being nailed to the cross, so it mostly speaks for itself. Ruben’s work was requested more after his trip to Italy in 1600. This painting was created for a Roman Catholic cathedral in his homeland of Belgium. It is noticeable when looking at this painting the Renaissance style with the form of the bodies, adding the emotion and lighting to bring it into the Baroque era. The light accents Jesus mostly against his frail, warped body, and into his face showing sadness and suffering. Rubens was born in 1577 in exile where they lived until the passing of his father in 1587. The family returned to Antwerp and regained their faith and became Catholics. Rubens studied in a Latin school and at 21 years of age he was ranked master painter of the Antwerp Guild of St. Luke (royal painting, 2012). Only 2 years after this award he created the Raising of the Cross. He is looked at as an important Flemish painter in his era. Rembrandt van Rijn painted the Return of the Prodigal Child which is an oil on canvas. This painting is 8’8” x 6’8” was painted from 1668 – 1669.
This is yet another well-known story from the Bible. It shows a child kneeling on the ground embraced in the arms of someone who means a lot to him. According to Frank this painting symbolized a disobedient son who left his father and home to be on his own and when he had nothing left he crawled back expecting his father to turn him away. But he did not open his arms to let him back in. The painting demonstrates the Baroque style. The emotion and drama involved show the most heartfelt part of the story, not the pain or betrayal only the love of a father and son. The light is brightest on the father and son. Here he interprets the Christian idea of mercy with an extraordinary solemnity, as though this were his spiritual testament to the world (Web Gallery of Art,
2012).
All three paintings I have chosen have simularites. All three paintings have a religious meaning and story behind them. All three paintings are oil based. All three show considerable signs of the Baroque era. All three paintings show a strong sense of emotion and drama. The lighting accents the focal point in each painting. The Baroque style evolved from the renaissance era and that shows in the contrapposta in the realistic lines in the people. Caravaggio and Ruben’s paintings have the Renaissance style seen within them, mainly the characteristics of Michelangelo. Both of these paintings continue to be seen in churches. Rembrandts work was of the Baroque era but later on. His work was advanced unlike Caravaggio and Ruben who were the firsts. The Prodigal Son was not left in the church but now is on display in the Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg. Rembrandt’s work was talked about as, “It goes beyond the works of all other Baroque artists in the evocation of religious mood and human sympathy” (Web Gallery of Art, 2012). ). That is personal chose; all 3 have a deep religious mood and human sympathy in one way or another. Whether it is Christ reaching for St. Paul to save his fallen body, or Jesus being raised on the cross to die for our sins, how can one human sacrifice or pain and emotion beyond the other? The one that shows the most Renaissance look is Reuben’s painting. The painting shows the detail and line work in the bodies. As with the Baroque era, the lighting and strong emotion are there is a dramatic sense of contrapposto used. The same distinctions can be seen in Caravaggio’s work but there is more accents in the lighting and key focal points of the painting a little more. These artists were in the beginning of the era just starting to experiment with new styling, so it makes sense to utilized styles from the decade before. These artists were taught in school the work of Michelangelo so of course it will appear in their work. Rembrandt, who was born in 1606, went to the University of Leiden during the second decade of the Baroque period.
Even though there he was taught past techniques, he often used more current styles in his work. Most of his career he was known for his self- portraits. Towards the end of his life, he created the painting The Prodigal Son which shows his humanity and pain. A clear view of what a 21 year old sees and what a 62 year old has experienced appears in the work. Even though all 3 were created with a religious theme and in the Baroque period there is a distinct style between who studied in the 16th century and who didn’t begin their studies until the 17th
century. Baroque style in painting showed drama and emotion. In a still painting there is such realism and movement. The emotions portrayed in the faces and with the lighting gave this era its own unique style. The lighting and accent on the main points brings out the importantance on what the artist is trying to capture.

The Conversion of St. Paul: Caravaggio

Raising of the Cross: Peter Paul Rubens

Return of the Prodigal Son: Rembrandt

References
Frank, Patrick (2011). Prebles ' Art forms: Tenth Edition, Chapter 16.
Boston College (Updated 2011, April 1) Caravaggio: The Conversion of St. Paul. Retrieved from: http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/cas/his/CoreArt/art/bar_cvggo_conv.html
Royal painting (2012) Raising of the cross: Peter Paul Ruebens. Retrieved from: http://www.royal-painting.com/Peter-Paul-Rubens-oil-painting-reproduction/Raising-of-the-Cross-9170.html
Web Gallery of Art (2012) Rembrandt’s Prodigal Son. Retrieved from: http://www.rembrandtpainting.net/rembrandt 's_prodigal_son.html
.