The Renaissance a Baroque piece of Art

Artemisia Gentileschi's Judith Slaying Holofernes

For this assignment, I decided to go with something that shows a lot of emotion. This painting to me is a great example of Baroque Artwork. 

History

What is Baroque Art? Well, actually the term Baroque comes from the Portuguese 'barocco' meaning 'irregular stone or pearl', this refers to a beautiful cultural and art movement that went along to characterize Europe from as early as the seventeenth to mid-eighteenth century. To be Baroque is to show drama, movement, tension, vitality, emotions, and a tendency to go and blur the distinctions between certain art forms. This painting represents the human and professional tale of a woman who chose to be an artist in an era that was dominated by men. This piece of art was painted in 1620 by Artemisia Gentileschi and is called Judith Slaying Holofernes. It is housed in the Uffizi Gallery, in Florence, Italy. There are actually two versions. The first was created around 1611-1612. The second one (this painting) was painted later and thought to be commissioned by the Medici family. Gentileschi was the most accomplished female painter of the Italian Baroque. When she painted this Italy was in the middle of the Counter Reformation. During this time the Catholic Church had lost many followers to the Protestant faiths. So they did their best to damage control the situation to bring their people back. So they used art as a tool. The Baroque art wasn't just decorative, oh no, they used it as propaganda. Which go on to include things like good versus evil or artwork to show Christian and Jewish heroes conquering evil. The story behind this painting is given in the Book of Judith, which is shown in many different types of paintings and sculptures throughout this period. In the story, Judith is a beautiful widow, she enters the tent of Holofernes because he desires her. He was an Assyrian general who was about to destroy her home, the city of Bethulia. He passes out from a drink and is decapitated by Judith.

Analysis

When I saw this painting I knew this was the one to choose. I love Baroque! It is shocking but also captivating. I wanted to know why this was happening to make these women do this. Which brings me to the Baroque era. The emotions and the drama brought out in this painting are stunning. Look at the arms, and the position of the bodies, and do you see the diagonal lines that cross? I see it too, this also adds to the painting and the drama I think. The colors in this painting are vivid and the blood really adds to this painting and the fact that they are killing him. You know when there is blood spurting out, death usually comes with it. The fact that they have him underneath them also shows the women's power and drive to get this done. I also find it interesting that the sword is centered on the painting and in a cross shape. Her fist and sword are definitely placed there on purpose. It also has so much realism and detail in it. From their faces, and clothing all the way to her wrist that holds the sword. You can almost smell the blood as you look at it. 

This is a painting that would be really neat to get a closer look at. I would like to see all the versions of it too. This painting really has a place in a museum, art school, or something similar. If I had a print of this, it would be good to hang in an adult living room or something like that. Something without children around. I would like a print of it, but I don't know where I would put it. Such a beautiful masterpiece though.

“Artemisia Gentileschi, Judith Slaying Holofernes (Article).” Khan Academy, Khan Academy, www.khanacademy.org/humanities/renaissance-reformation/baroque-art1/baroque-italy/a/gentileschi-judith-slaying-holofernes. Accessed 29 Feb. 2024.

du Plessis, Alicia. “‘Judith Slaying Holofernes’ by Artemisia Gentileschi - an Analysis.” Art in Context, 20 Nov. 2023, artincontext.org/judith-slaying-holofernes-by-artemisia-gentileschi/. https://artincontext.org/judith-slaying-holofernes-by-artemisia-gentileschi/

Lyon, Howard. “A Baroque Composition.” Muddy Colors, 15 July 2020,         www.muddycolors.com/2013/12/a-baroque-composition/.

Italian and Northern Renaissance Art

Portrait of Pope Leo X, 1518

History:

This painting is by Raphael.  The portrait of Pope Leo X, and two cardinals. He is the son of Lorenzo de' Medici, Pope Leo X a shrewd and self-indulgent man was best known for his bad habits which included wastefulness, lecherous activities, extravagant lifestyle, and his hedonistic quote, "Since god has given us the papacy, let us enjoy it" ( Zappella). You couldn't tell from looking at portraits that Leo's policies were ripping Christendom apart and this would actually directly lead to the Protestant Reformation. In the portrait, Leo and his two illegitimate relatives are with him, on the left is his nephew Giulio de' Medici, and on the right is his cousin Cardinal Luigi de' Rossi- are in the portrait and look like dignified men of honor. It gives no hint of the chaos they threw in Italy and the entire Christian world. 

Analysis: 

The first thing I see when I look at this is the red color which is the color of the papacy and it is designed around the dominant figure Pope Leo X whose authority is enhanced by the mood of respectful silence closest to you, his family members have subordinate positions in the background behind him. But they aren't so far back that they change the message of Medici power and authority. Their silence helps to establish the authority of the Pope as he stares straight off in the distance like nothing distracts him. This look of solemnity may be due to the troubled times of his papacy with Martin Luther's challenge to its authority and his condemnation of Leo's method of selling indulgences to fund reconstruction that he was having done on St Peter's Basilica. On the table in front of Leo is a beautifully carved bell, and a religious manuscript that is illuminated, and one could say he was studying it with his magnifying glass. Both are important to him and show his love for this visual. 

This painting was commissioned to help glorify the Medici family and the authority of the Pope. The pope is actually a Medici family member. It was painted in 1518 by Raphael and it sits in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy. The dimensions of the painting are 155.5 x 119.5 cm. Raphael painted with oil on a panel. This painting is beautiful in its own right and you almost want to feel the velvet that he is wearing to find out how soft it actually is. But I don't think I would want a copy of it in my house. But if I get to go to Florence Italy I would go to see it. Italy is on my top 5 of next to travel too. 

Here is a video that talks about that painting and was actually neat to watch. It shows some close-ups of the painting. Things you wouldn't notice. Like the Medici coat of arms written on the bible. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_7RRxooJk0

 

Zappella, Christine. "Raphael, Pope Leo X," in Smarthistory, 9 Aug. 2015, https://smarthistory.org/raphael-pope-leo-x/. Accessed 19 Feb. 2024

Kappe, Eelco. “Portrait of Leo X with Two Cardinals by Raphael.” TripImprover, 1 Feb. 2020, www.tripimprover.com/blog/portrait-of-leo-x-with-two-cardinals-by-raphael Accessed 20 Feb. 2024

“Portrait of Leo X (1518) by Raphael.” YouTube, Amuze Art Lectures, 2 Feb. 2024, www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_7RRxooJk0.

Art Analysis of The Kiss

                 

 The Arts Background

This beautiful painting is called The Kiss and was painted by Gustav Klimt in 1907-1908. Klimt used oil and gold leaf on canvas. Klimt was an Austrian symbolist painter and one of the most prominent members of Vienna Secession Movement. Which were a group of painters who revolted against academic art in favour of a highly decorative style similar to Art Nouveau. He is known for his paintings, sketches, and murals. His primary subject was the female body. One of the big mysteries with this painting is who is in the painting? He never told anyone who is caught in the embrace.

Analysis

This portrait brought out emotions from me first off when I look at it. You can feel the embrace and wonder is it just a loving embrace? Or is it much more, as in the final? There is a sweet tenderness and passion to this couple. He has just enough of them showing but not to much. Everything about this painting shows love between two consensual people. 

I love how he uses very masculine shapes in the rectangles that show strength and virility for a man while using contrasting circles and flowers which are more feminine, maternal and have a softness and yet a tenderness to it. This was one of his paintings where he used irregular shapes instead of patterns which is an interesting change.

He uses texture in this painting with the gold leaf, which was a new technique that he established using very thin gold leaf. He also used the gold leaf in fleks on the background which bring out almost a cosmo effect behind the couple. I think this elevates their loves with the gold all over. His use of the space makes sure your eyes stay on the couple. 

My thoughts

This painting definelty deserves to be in a Palace in Vienna, Austria where it is kept. I would love to go and see it if I ever travel back to Vienna again. I think I would like a print of this above my headboard in my bedroom. Somewhere private, but where you can see if every day. It would need to be on a bare wall for sure so it can shine all by itself. I am thankful my daughter showed me this painting, such a emotional piece.

I hope you enjoyed my analysis of The Kiss by Gustav Klimt. Thank you for reading!

Bibliography

“The Kiss - Google Arts & Culture.” Google Arts and Culture, Google, https://artsandculture.google.com/story/zQURmESPplFKJQ Accessed 3 Feb. 2024. Art and Culture