Art is the Solution

Christ at the Sea of Galilee Source: Wikimedia Commons I’ve written many times about my love of Mannerist painting. It’s a particularly weird, yet dramatic genre of painting, both qualities that endear it to me and make it continually interesting to modern viewers. The Venetian artist Tintoretto was one of the most famous Mannerist artists of his time, and Christ at the Sea of Galilee is one of his most astounding paintings. The painting depicts a biblical scene in which Christ appears to the apostles while they are fishing in the Sea of Galilee. The piece is an outstanding example of Tintoretto’s mannerist style. He was famous for his so-called furious brushstrokes, which give his work a bold and brash aspect. His loose brushstrokes can be seen in the lapping waves of the Sea of Galilee and the billowing clouds. Christ stands on the shore, facing away from the viewer (an unusual visual choice). He towers above the boat below, unnaturally tall. In fact, all sense of proportio...

Saint Mark's Body Brought to Venice Source: Wikimedia Commons Yesterday, I discussed the Mannerist artist Lavinia Fontana, and, while we’re on the topic, I thought I would talk about one of the great painters of the Mannerist age, Tintoretto. Like all Mannerist painters, Tintoretto produced strange and imaginative paintings that defied previously established artistic traditions. While Mannerism in general is characterized by unusual use of color and proportion along with unconventional compositional choices. However, Tintoretto in particular was known for his bold brushstrokes and expressive style. Saint Mark's Body Brought to Venice is an excellent example of his distinctive style. Tintoretto himself was a Venetian and spent much of his life in the city; he painted a series of four paintings related to Saint Mark in homage to his city’s patron saint. The city of Venice has long had a deep, spiritual and symbolic relationship with Saint Mark, and the city’s coat of arms ev...

Last Supper Source: Wikipedia I’ve written many times about my love of Mannerist painting. It’s a particularly weird, yet dramatic genre of painting, both qualities that endear it to me and make it continually interesting to modern viewers. The Venetian artist Tintoretto was one of the most famous Mannerist artists of his time. One of his most striking pieces is his interpretation of the Last Supper, the biblical scene in which Christ shares one last meal with his apostles before his crucifixion. Because of its theological significance to Christians, the Last Supper has traditionally been a common subject for Western artists, particularly during the Renaissance and Counter-Reformation periods. Leonardo da Vinci’s version of the Last Supper has long been one of the most famous paintings in the world, a classic of the Renaissance movement. In many ways, da Vinci’s Last Supper represents the standard practices for depicting the subject at the time. All of the figures face the viewe...