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Art of the 16th century
By Aaron Schwartz
The art of the sixteenth century reflects the flourishing of the renaissance epoch in Italy and Spain. Painters who worked during that period left a lot of works that are considered to be real masterpieces of art nowadays and are the objects for many researches, discussions and studies. Religion and bible themes took one of the most privileged places in the art of that time. The painting and sculptures made by Rafael, Leonardo, El Greco, Titian and other famous names gave another different life to the Bible and religion stories, immortalizing religion in art by using common people to pose. The paintings that will be described have many features of mannerism: a trend in art inherent to color contrasts, longer proportions and dissonances of shadow and light.
Titian`s St Mary Magdalene in Penitence is a good example of the religious theme reflected in art. Mary Magdalene is a good example of Titian`s style, that is distinguished by alive, moving and dynamic paintings, where every detail has a meaning, and the whole painting expresses unity and harmony. Mary is painted on the dark background of black clouds and darkness. Master in using color and light, Titian made the figure of Mary Magdalene clear and bright that makes a feeling of God hearing her prayers and repentances and of forgiving her by lighting her face. We also see that in the back of the picture the clouds are lifting and sunlight is getting out of them and lights the tree in the dark. The usage of dark colors makes the work look more realistic and meaningful. This work made in the late period of Titian`s creative life, looks gloomier, more serious and mysterious than his early works. The atmosphere in Italian society of that time: feudal wars, religious and social intolerance and rebels influenced his style of painting. This work reflects the appeal that was in the soul of the genius: to ask and call everybody to stop violence and to confess in their sins for the sake of peace and love.
The painting The Three Marys at the Sepulchre by Annibale Carracci depicts the resurrection theme from the Bible. A bright representative of Italian renaissance, Annibale Carracci brilliantly painted the motion of the people and their surprise. Their poses, gestures and mimics truly reflect the surprise, fear and rapture about the resurrection. To express all these feelings at once, Carracci used a wonderful technique: he painted all three women expressing different emotions and feelings that were described in Bible. Light that goes from the angel adds to his role in the painting and to the words he says more strong and powerful meaning.
The Apostles Peter and Paul by El Greco is one of the paintings that form a series of paintings dedicated to Christ`s apostles. Paul and Peter are painted standing and looking on the viewer. By holding his finger on the passage from the Bible, Paul is trying to show the meaning and the role of the message put into it. As most of images made by El Greco The Apostles Peter and Paul have something mysterious and religious in their eyes. By the opinion of many critics El Greco wanted to show the protest against the reformation that started in Germany at that time. As apostles are looking to the right (or to the east) in the direction of Germany and other eastern European countries that rejected the power of Catholic Church, painter wanted to remind that church was formed united and integrated and Peter with Paul, who are considered to be the founders of the Church insist on it, and the detail of Paul`s finger that points into the lines on the scripture intensifies the meaning of it.
While looking at these paintings it`s common to think about philosophical and moral problems that one can face in everyday life as well as to feel and experience the look of the characters from the paintings and feel the power of their look.
Aaron is a professional freelance writer at custom essays writing service: custom-essay.net He is also a technical writer, advertising copywriter, & website copywriter for Custom Essay Writing Service.
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