World Art II Paper

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Salami 1

Olawale Salami

World Art II

Dr. Mckeown

24 April 2012

World Art II paper

The painting chose isMadonna and child with St. John the Baptist, a Renaissance

painting from the 15th

century. There are many paintings I saw that had the same title, but

this particular one was different. This painting was made from tempera on wood and

created by a follower ofLorenzo de Credi, at the Florentine school(1456/60-1537). The

painting is fairly large and still in good shape. As presented in front of the viewer

Madonna has her hands clasp kneeling, while looking at her child at Christ. To her left

and right are angels looking at Christ as well. The angel to Madonnas right is also

kneeling and looks as if she is about to clasp her hand like Madonna did. The angel to her

left has her hands placed on her chest while kneeling looking at Christ. Beside the angel

to Madonnas right side is a child holding a cross looking at the angel. In the far back of

the painting St. John the Baptist is sitting on a rock that appears to be 15 ft. tall. For some

reason, he is looking away from the action that is happening, as if he saw something

flying in the sky. The entire scene appears to be a building with columns beside St. John

who is outside of the shelter. Something interesting about this painting is while Christ is

looking at Madonna he is holding some kind of bird. It doesnt seem like people would

have caught that, because you have to really look close to the painting in order to see it. I

dont know if that was something symbolic orit was a reference to the painting.


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From the evidence Ive explained clearly represents Renaissance paintings

because of where it was created, the artist that created it, and the design of the painting. A

painting like this I would normally see in the past made in Italy. The technique and style

presented in this painting looks like the use of realism seen in other Italian paintings such

as, Parmigianinos paintingMadonna with long neck, Sforza Altarpiece, andMadonna of

the rocks. All of these paintings period of time was between 1400 through 1500. This

selected painting I choose style is typically a Renaissance painting because back then the

general paint selected was egg tempera. Another reason is other artists made the same

painting, but in different styles, painting, and characters in the painting. Some have just

Madonna and Christ or those two and another child giving Christ the cross. There are

other paintings where there are angels and people in the painting. Most of the best

paintings back in the past came from Europe and they almost always had a religious

feature to the painting. Also stories that were told about society back then about their

religious views caused them to create such magnificent paintings, but thats not the case.

Actually it wasnt the religious views of society back then that made them create

religious paintings. It was the new aesthetic view, creative mind, and values that the artist

had that created these exceptional paintings.

This painting style reflects to the artist and the worldview by its general

appearance, style, technique, what was used to create the painting, what it referenced to,

its purpose, who created it, (and if so was it a famous artist), the period it was created, the

place it was created in, and etc. There are many more worldviews art expresses that are

seen in paintings and what it reflects to. This particular painting may have been reflected

by other similar paintings from different artists who created the same painting, but in a


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different way. Either they had added some features to the original painting or recreated it

their own way. For exampleRaphaelsMadonna and Childmay have been influenced

byLeonardos Madonna and Childand passed down to other artists that were influenced

by them as well. These artists lived in Europe where Renaissance art is commonly looked

at, which definitely expresses art in a worldview.

The second painting I selected was The Slaying of Medusa, created byLuca

Giordano in 1680. This painting is a Baroque style of art created by oil on canvas. I could

tell because of style it shows, its appearance, what it was created by, and the time period.

This painting was very wide because of the many scenes depicted in the painting, as if it

were a series of stories put together and action was presented throughout the whole

painting creating mass suspense to the viewer. I think it would make the viewer want to

know what was to occur next, but the people will generally have a point what was to

happen next. Presented is (I believe from the story) Perseus trying to make his way to

slay Medusa. To the left side of the painting are corpses that have been slain by Perseus

on hard rocks, as if they were battling near an ocean. Something interesting about that

side of the painting is one of the corpse looks like there is a hammer lodged into the

shoulder, or maybe it was dropped during battle. Either way it shows some of the

effectiveness in the painting. This scene of the painting will catch the attention of anyone

who views it because it shows Perseus about to attack a soldier. The way Perseuss

position of attack is the main focus of the painting, which attracts all of the attention to

the viewers. The soldier that is about to get attacked has his shield ready to block the

attack, but doesnt seem that it will work. This whole painting shows some graphic parts,

but the fierceness that people like to see in a painting.


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This painting reminds me of theDavid by Donatello,Judith slaying Holofernes

by Gentileschi and for some reason the Oath of the Horatii by David. I say this because of

the muscularity of Perseus reminded me of the David, when Judith almost removed

Holoferness head and for some reason when the sons of Horatius raised their hands to

their oath. I think that because as I mentioned the muscularity, new style, technique of the

painting, and also when Horatius raised the swords in the air, (not really similar to how

Perseus raised his, but because both of them raised their sword in the air. Most of all the

painting Judith slaying Holofernes reminded me because of the tone and style of the

painting. The painting doesnt fully have a typical subject matter similar to other Baroque

artwork besides the style, the time period, and the region. It still shows evidence of a

Baroque painting by the tone of color used; it makes some difference between

Renaissance and Baroque artwork.

Society in the Baroque period started a new way of artistic style. Some of it was

borrowed ideas from the Renaissance, but more was added to it. Baroque consisted of

new artistic style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to

produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, architecture,

literature, dance, and music. The style started around 1600 in Rome, Italy and spread to

most of Europe (Fargis). Peoples Ideas and values were also political instead of all

religious. This new act influenced a different kind of aesthetic view to artist, which they

created perspective in art.

In a way this paintings style has reflected the artist and the societys worldview,

because of the action displayed and the type, the detail, and the material used to create the

painting. This painting doesnt really have an impact on society worldview, but only


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when battles have occurred in the past. Also the theme of the painting doesnt match wait

people do on an everyday bases. The content of the work reflects to the artist by drama

and conflict with their lives. So, this painting doesnt quite impact society or the artist

themselves, but the way the painting style, proportion, feature, realism, naturalism, and

execution.

Both of the paintings I have selected are very good types of Renaissance and

Baroque paintings that would be considered well created. I say this because of the quality

of the work and what it was made out of.Madonna and Childis more famous than The

Slaying of Medusa, mainly because it was commonly re-painted by many other artists and

more people are fond of hearing it more. That doesnt mean that it is better than Slaying

of Medusa. The Slaying of Medusa has more quality, action, space, and drama, than

Madonna and child, but Madonna and child has a more calm, peaceful, caring, religious,

and natural setting than the Medusa painting. Both of these paintings also have features

that you really have to look at closely to see a reference that the artists are referring to.

They both have to have a moment of time to be looked at to understand what really is

going on, instead of what is seen. The style of painting is different of course, because of

the time periods and the material used to make the paintings, but certainly does not

clarify which painting is better. Though the Baroque painting was made later than the

Renaissance it still doesnt make it any bigger difference than the two, even though The

Slaying of Medusa is wider thanMadonna and child. They both are linked to the past and

have, but Slaying of Medusa has an interesting Mythological reference.

Comparing these two pieces has definitely clarified different worldviews of both

societies, because of their origin, time period, artist, style, and etc... Renaissance art made


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a huge impact in society back then and it still does know because of the major difference

of work, artists, and movement that impact Europe and spread across the world. Many

other ideas were borrowed, used, copied, and re-created because of it. This is one reason

that Baroque art was created because of Renaissance art. Baroque as well made a big

impact as well of the drama, perspective, dance, and music it brought to the world. If it

wasnt for these movements these two paintings would have not been created. So

comparing these two paintings have a different worldview in both societies mostly

because of its origin. The quote Art expresses the cultural worldview of the society in

which the artist lives is correct mainly because of the origin of the art, because of where

these paintings where created drags the attention of the people and when it does it spreads

to other people and influence other artists as well. When this happens more people will

become interested in learning about it to create their own or people will want to purchase

more of it and study about it as well.

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World Art II Paper