Renaissance and Baroque

Pictured above is The Death of the Virgin, a painting done by Bartolomeo Vivarini between 1450-91 during the Renaissance period. Bartolomeo is from Venice where he was raised by a talented family of painters. There are many qualities in this particular painting that prove its renaissance influence. Illusion of depth is a prime example; different colors are used to show shade/light and the characters appear 3D and lifelike. This can be observed in Vivarini’s painting where he uses the figures to explore movement and emotion. Realism and Christianity are also qualities that are associated with Renaissance. Dressed in vibrant blue and directly in the center of this painting is The Virgin. Christ (son of the Virgin) also takes some spotlight in the center of this painting as he hovers in the sky, anticipating the arrival of the Virgin. Balance and asymmetrical balance are also evident in this piece. The asymmetrical balance is depicted in the background where the right side shows beautiful trees and green land while the left side appears dry and dark with very few sings of  ‘life’. Visually, Christ surrounded by angels and the Virgin surrounded by praying men, balance each other out perfectly in size.  The Renaissance would go on to influence and open the door to many future advancements in the art world. 

Nymph and Shepherd is a painting that was done during the Baroque period by Johann Liss. Liss discovered and mastered his Baroque style in Venice where this painting was created between 1600-1631. The Caravaggio influence in addition to the vibrant colors and dramatic use of light certainly attribute to its Baroque origin. In the center of this piece is an unsuspecting Nymph who is sleeping in the forest under a tree. The Nymph also appears as the brightest figure and basked in light, while the remainder of the painting is fairly dark. The Nymph embodies innocence, unbothered with her surroundings as The Shepherd watches over her and it is my belief that innocence, or rather the obstruction of innocence, is a key theme in this painting. Unlike Renaissance, Baroque focuses heavily on drama, movement, and emotion. Liss depicts the Shepherd in dark trees while holding a crook over the Nymph as if he’s about to disrupt her innocence. However, it’s unclear what the Shepherd is about to do because he is stuck in mid-movement. The Baroque era followed after the Renaissance where art styles and techniques advanced with time. It is worth noticing how the curves and detail in the anatomy of the figures take realism to a new level.