Art is the Solution

The Conversion of Saint Paul Source: Wikimedia Commons Of all the artistic movements and styles, Mannerism has produced some of the strangest and most interesting paintings in Western art. Mannerist artists rejected Renaissance realism in favor of a more artificial and creative style. Parmigianino, one of the most famous Mannerist painters, is perhaps best known for The Madonna with the Long Neck , a painting of the Virgin Mary with a bizarrely long neck. However, today we’re taking a look at another Parmigianino painting with a religious subject: The Conversion of Saint Paul . The subject of the piece is the conversion of Saint Paul. Saint Paul, known as Saul at this point in his life, was involved in persecuting early Christians until he experienced a miraculous conversion on the road to Damascus. Parmigianino captures the moment that Paul begins to follow Christ, which is described in The Acts of the Apostles: And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the discip...

The Deposition from the Cross Source: Wikimedia Commons The Descent from the Cross is one of the most popular subjects in Christian art. It’s no exaggeration to say that nearly every "Old Master" painted at least one image of Christ’s body being removed from the Cross, and it’s easy to understand why the subject was so popular. In addition to its theological significance, the Descent from the Cross offers painters the opportunity to show their skill in creating emotional and visually dramatic art. There are many fine and interesting depictions of the Descent from the Cross in the Western artistic canon. However, Pontormo’s version, entitled The Deposition from the Cross , stands out. Pontormo, an Italian painter, was a member of the Mannerist movement, and it certainly shows in this painting. The piece depicts a crowd of pastel-clad mourners carrying the body of Christ and supporting the Virgin Mary, who is swooning at the sight of her son’s dead body. It is a strange approac...

Young Knight in a Landscape  Source: Wikimedia Commons Today, I want to take a look at a painting that makes history. Young Knight in a Landscape is the first full-length portrait in Western history. The piece was created by Venetian artist Vittore Carpaccio, who worked in the style of the Italian Renaissance. Venetian art tended to be original and unusual among Italian art, forming a unique style. This being said, Carpaccio’s style was especially unusual. Aside from the unique nature of Young Knight in a Landscape , it is also rather old-fashioned, showing influence from Medieval and early Renaissance art. It also bears evidence of Northern Renaissance influence. Art of the Northern Renaissance tends to be elaborate and hugely detailed, full of miniature scenes within paintings. This can certainly be seen in Young Knight in a Landscape . Carpaccio uses symbolism and clever placement of details to convey a message about the knight’s virtue. A parchment in the corner of the paintin...

The Hunt in the Forest Source: Wikimedia Commons Today is the first day of deer hunting season in Pennsylvania, which is basically a holiday in our state. So, in honor of this occasion, I wanted to share a painting that celebrates hunting. The Hunt in the Forest is one of the final known paintings produced by the great Italian Renaissance painter Paolo Uccello. Uccello was one of the earliest painters of the Renaissance movement and today is known for his groundbreaking experimentation with visual perspective. The accurate representation of three dimensional space was one of the defining characteristics of the Renaissance style, and Uccello was well known for his obsession with perspective. In fact, the artist’s obsession with perspective resulted in somewhat stiff, formulaic paintings. For example, The Hunt in the Forest features row upon row of identical trees arranged in a repeating pattern. Ranks of dogs and hunters, arranged in symmetrical lines, charge toward the woods with sp...

In 1971, a rather famous art historian named Linda Nochlin published an essay entitled "Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?" (which was rather famous in and of itself). In this piece, Nochlin explains how institutional and cultural forces prevented women from engaging in the artistic world for most of Western history. Despite the valid points that Nochlin makes, the premise of her essay actually isn’t true. Since "Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?" was published, numerous women of the modern era have been recognized for their artistic genius, while at the same time art historians have rediscovered the work of many female painters who were forgotten by history. However, it is still true that the work of female artists tends to be undervalued and understudied in the art world. So, today, I’d like to introduce you to five brilliant women who definitely deserve the name Great Artists. Sofonisba Anguissola - Sofonisba Anguissola is probably the greate...

A Crystal Fruit Stand with Peaches, Quinces, and Jasmine Flowers Source: Wikimedia Commons The Renaissance was a revolutionary moment in the history of Western art. The movement framed many of the artistic traditions and conventions that we now take for granted; it is hard to imagine what Western visual culture would look like today without the Renaissance. While these revolutionary changes in art are usually associated with male painters such as Raphael and da Vinci, the Renaissance movement was actually much more diverse and interesting. Fede Galizia is one of the great female artists of the Renaissance movement who has largely been forgotten by history. However, during her lifetime Galizia was known as a talented artist. Her skill was such that her work was in demand from the age of twelve onwards. This is even more remarkable when you consider that female painters faced many restrictions in the sixteenth century. Because of such social pressures, Galizia focused on religious scenes...

Portrait of Young Woman with Unicorn Source: Wikimedia Commons When you hear the word Renaissance, several artists probably come to mind: Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael. Today, Raphael Sanzio is known as one of the greatest artists of the Western tradition. His art is often praised for its beauty, balance, and clarity of style. Like many Renaissance artists, Raphael strove to capture the idealized human form in his work. The philosophy of the Renaissance movement revolved around the idea of human grandeur, which is on full display in Renaissance art. As such, Portrait of Young Woman with Unicorn presents an ideal woman by the standards of Raphael’s time. The piece features a beautiful young woman who is composed and graceful, a serious expression on her face. Behind her, we see a classic Italian loggia and a hazy landscape, while, in her arms, she holds a unicorn, a traditional symbol of purity and virginity. While the identity of Raphael’s model is unknown, the presence...

The Lady with an Ermine Source: Wikimedia Commons Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is probably the most famous painting in the world (or, at least, it is certainly the most famous painting in the Western world). However, the Mona Lisa was far from da Vinci’s only masterpiece. My personal favorite da Vinci painting is entitled The Lady with an Ermine . The piece depicts a young woman in a blue and red dress with a white stoat entwined in her arms. Her face is tilted away from the viewer in a three-quarters profile. A half smile dances across her lips while her bright, intelligent eyes focus on something that is invisible to the viewer. Although it has been damaged over the centuries, it remains a beautiful and enticing piece of art. Like all Renaissance artists, da Vinci was interested in capturing the idealized grace of the human form. This is especially true of his portraits of women, which are imbued with a calm, dignified beauty. However, more than almost any other Renaissance artist...

Saint Francis Preaching to the Birds Source: Medium Although most people are acquainted with the masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance (after all, the Mona Lisa is certainly the most famous painting in the world), comparatively few are familiar with the pieces of art that started the Renaissance movement. The Italian painter Giotto was among the first artists to experiment with elements of the Renaissance style, and his work influenced countless generations of artists. This piece, entitled Saint Francis Preaching to the Birds , depicts Saint Francis of Assisi—the patron saint of animals—preaching to a flock of birds about the love of God. It was a fairly popular subject for Christian artists of the time, made popular by an account of his life entitled the Little Flowers of Saint Francis . While it is a touching and memorable scene in its own right, Giotto’s approach to it is particularly beautiful.  "My sweet little sisters, birds of the sky, you are bound to heaven, to G...

Lamentation over the Dead Christ Source: Pinacoteca di Brera While the Renaissance is probably the most famous artistic movement in the Western world, it’s far from my favorite. I tend to prefer stranger, more dramatic art, whereas the art of the Renaissance tends to exude an air of calm, unemotional serenity. Lamentation over the Dead Christ , however, is different. Although the painting dates to the Renaissance period, it doesn’t really look like a typical piece of Renaissance art. First of all, it is quite an emotional painting (which, as I noted above, is not typical for the Renaissance period). The extreme foreshortening of Christ’s body is designed for maximum visual impact. Christ’s evident deadness contributes to this phenomenon. It is very obvious that the artist Andrea Mantegna based his depiction of Christ on first hand observation. He depicts rigor mortis, the grayish tint of the skin, and the strangely bloodless wounds with an almost frightening degree of accuracy. It’s...

The Small Cowper Madonna Source: National Gallery of Art If you ask the average European or American to name all the famous painters they could think of, the name Raphael would probably be among the first on the list. Raphael Sanzio (usually just called Raphael) is one of the most famous painters of the Renaissance period and, more generally, in the history of art. Raphael has never been one of my favorite painters, but it’s hard to deny that his paintings are extraordinarily beautiful. Raphael possessed profound artistic talent and a masterful understanding of the human form. Unsurprisingly for the time period, most of Raphael’s paintings were religious in subject matter; in particular, Raphael returned to the Madonna as a subject many times throughout his career. This Madonna, known as the Small Cowper Madonna , is—in my opinion—Raphael’s finest depiction of the mother of God. It is an incredibly beautiful painting, exhibiting Raphael’s technical mastery and adherence to Renaissa...

Saint George and the Dragon Source: National Gallery Paintings of the lives of Christian saints are abundant in the history of Western art. These paintings were particularly popular because they were considered to be morally instructive, provided a way to form a personal connection with religion, and, most importantly, because they offered entertainment. This painting, Paolo Uccello’s Saint George and the Dragon , is particularly sensational. In fact, it’s one of the strangest paintings of the Renaissance period. As the name suggests, the painting depicts two episodes from the story of Saint George and the dragon. As the National Gallery of the UK explains: “The story is taken from a popular collection of saints’ lives, ‘The Golden Legend’...According to the legend, the citizens of Silene in Libya had managed to appease the dragon by feeding him two sheep every day. However, their supply of sheep began to run out and they decided to offer one sheep and one person, to be selecte...

The Annunciation Source: Museo del Prado It’s my opinion that Fra Angelico’s Annunciation is one of the most beautiful paintings ever created. The rich blues and vibrant flashes of gold are a feast for the eyes, while the meticulous detail he brought to the flowers and plants is simply extraordinary. The painting was restored a couple of years ago, and it is now possible to see the full glory of Fra Angelico’s work. As his name suggests, Fra Angelico was a monk, and his paintings deal exclusively with religious subjects. Paintings like The Annunciation were devotional items, meant to inspire prayer and reflection. The Annunciation was one of Fra Angelico’s favorite subjects; he returned to it many times throughout his life. However, this Annunciation is probably the best. The subject matter comes from the Gospel of Luke; here, we the moment that the angel Gabriel appears to tell Mary that she will become pregnant with the Christ Child. Depictions of the Annunciation usually ...

Ognissanti Madonna Source:   Uffizi Gallery The work of the Italian artist Giotto occupies a unique place in art history. He is often regarded as one of the first artists of the Renaissance, and, as such, his paintings form a bridge between the Medieval and Renaissance periods. When thinking about the history of art, it’s important to remember that artistic movements don’t arise overnight. On a grand scale, stylistic changes emerge gradually. There is no sharp dividing line between the end of the Medieval period and the beginning of the Renaissance. Giotto’s Ognissanti Madonna is a good example of this. The painting is a true representation of the interaction between two stylistic movements. The piece is obviously influenced by Medieval representations of the Virgin Mary; the Madonna herself is a massive figure, towering above the angels who surround her. Her throne resembles a gothic reliquary, neither furniture nor true architectural space. The throne itself f...

The Chess Game Source: Wikipedia More than almost any other painter of the Renaissance, Sofonisba Anguissola had a flare for depicting personality and emotion. When you encounter her paintings, you feel as though you’re being introduced to real, flesh-and-blood people. This is especially true of her earlier works. Contemporary social conventions limited female painters to a constrained set of subjects, which meant that Anguissola painted her family members many times as a young artist. The result is a sense of intimacy in her paintings, a connection between the subject and the viewer which must surely mirror the connection between the artist and her family. The Chess Game is a good example of this aspect of her work. The painting depicts Anguissola’s sisters, smiling and chatting as they play a game of chess. It is an engaging piece that not only reflects her sisters’ personality and intelligence, but also exhibits the rich and vibrant domestic life of the Anguissola household...

Madonna of Bruges Photo Credit: Elke Wetzig Today, I want to talk about a sculpture that inspired my love of art and interest in art history. I saw the Madonna of Bruges when I visited Belgium thirteen years ago with my family. I was about twelve years old at the time, and I remember being totally enthralled by the piece (I actually tried to draw it at the time, which didn’t work out very well; I’m not much of an artist myself). The Madonna is so beautiful and so masterfully executed, it’s hard not to be dumbstruck when you see it for the first time. At its core, the sculpture showcases the best characteristics of Renaissance art: the beauty of the idealized human form, the carefully sculpted drapery, and the attention to the play of light and shadow across the surface of the marble. The long, oval-shaped face of the Madonna is particularly beautiful, expression conveying a mix of resignation and sadness. Like many contemporary depictions of the Madonna and Child, the piece fore...

Bernardino Campi Painting Sofonisba Anguissola Source: Wikipedia Today, I want to return to the Renaissance to talk about another great painter: Sofonisba Anguissola. Anguissola is best known for her portraits and self-portraits, and this one is one of my favorites. Here, we see the artist’s teacher — Bernardino Campi — painting a portrait of his student. The piece gives insight into the relationship between the two artists, portraying their friendship and mutual respect for each other. It is also a rather clever way to construct a self portrait. Anguissola’s painting is a painting of herself being painted, a reflection on the life of an artist and, in some ways, the creative process. Portraiture was one of the few genres of painting open to female artists during the Renaissance. Anguissola used these limitations to her advantage, repurposing the genre in innovative ways. Her work validates her experiences as a female painter and creates meaning through her explorations of the ...

Effects of Good Government in the City  Source:  Google Cultural Institute Today, I want to continue the discussion of the ideal city in art that we began yesterday. To do this, I want to talk about one of the great masterpieces of Italian art: The Allegory of Good and Bad Government , a series of frescos depicting the effects of government on the city and countryside. Each set of frescos depict a city under either good or bad governments. The allegorical figures of Peace, Fortitude, Prudence, Magnanimity, Temperance, and Justice reign over the “good city,” while Cruelty, Deceit, Fraud, Fury, Division, War, and Tyranny hold sway over the “bad city.” These frescos are interesting for a number of different reasons. They’re painted on the walls of Siena’s town hall, and they are a good example of transitions art as Europe began to move from the Medieval to the Renaissance period. There are elements of Renaissance art here, especially in the increased awareness of pers...