Art of Renaissance class Final Essay
Some of the earliest of all known art feature people and wildlife to show how the early artists not only expressed themselves through creativity but also appreciated the life around them. According to history, different key art concepts have evolved over the years and throughout different eras to get where it is today. With the changing of artistic perceptions and techniques of processing, analyzing and responding to various forms of art, it is safe to state that art has tremendously increased in the form of its quality and creativity. The introduction of technology has substantially improved art with most artist depending on the internet to learn different techniques through which they can enhance the quality of their work (Serée-Chaussinand, 128). Scholars have defined art as the theory and physical expression of one creativity in society and different cultures. Further research on the subject shows that the major components of artistic work include literature, performing art, and visual arts such as drawing and paintings. This assignment will largely focus on providing more information on the Actaeon Watching Diana and Her Nymphs Bathing by Paolo Veronese.
Question 1:
Why you chose this specific work of art?
The primary reason for choosing this painting is the fact that it represents one of the five paintings by the artist showing scenes from Roman mythology apart from highly creative work. Back in the 1560s, art was highly appreciated in the community as it was a way of communication from the artist to his or her audience (Marzillier, 84). Furthermore, it is widely known that most of the work presented by the artist always carried a moral lesson based on the picture. On this occasion, the artist intended to inform his audience that it was worth respecting the privacy of others especially women in the society.
Question 2:
The biography of the artist
Paolo Veronese, who credited with the painting of this highly creative and attractive image is regarded as one of the most talented artists to have ever graced the face of the earth. According to history, Paolo Veronese was born in 1528 in Verona, Italy and died in 1588 at the age of 60 years. His work is highly appreciated around the universe to date because he depicted allegorical, biblical or historical subjects and lessons in attractive and splendid colors. Furthermore, most of his work is set in a system of classicizing Renaissance architecture. According to history, despite starting as a stone cutter just like father, his interest in painting made him be apprenticed to a painter by the name of Antonio Badile to sharpen his skills in this area. Coincidentally, Veronese came to marry one of Badile’s daughters by the name of Elena (Garton,35). Apart from being influenced Antonio Badile, Veronese is said to have developed a liking for a group of painters such as Domenico Brusasorci, Giambattista Zelotti, and Paolo Farinati who helped him to develop the sound painting skills as well as developing a passion for painting.
Question 4:
Context of the artwork concerning the times and culture of the time
The painting was created in a period where The Roman Empire did not regard women equals to men unless they were married in their husband’s control which allowed men to take possessions of all the belongings of their newly wedded wives. The paint shows a picture of a young hunter who has stumbled upon the goddess of the hunt in the name of Siana bathing with her nymphs. Rather than showing respect to their privacy by walking away, the young hunter decides to sit down on the rock and watched the goddess and her nymphs bath. As a consequence of his immoral actions of gazing upon their nudity, the goddess transforms him into a stag, and he is torn apart by his dogs (Krems, 337). The work became the MFA when women began to call for equal rights in the society. Most of them referred to this painting to show that they were human who demanded respect and equality in the society. Therefore, it is safe to state that it became the reference point in the fight for equality in the Roman society.
Question 5:
Analysis of the work: subject matter, technique, complete visual analysis
The subject matter of the picture is respect for women’s rights and their privacy in the society. Notably, during the time the painting was created, women in the Roman Empire were only treated as sex objects rather than important people in the society. Besides, based on the quality of the painting it is safe to state that the artist has used oil on canvas to improve the quality of the painting. According to research, after painting, the artist uses oil canvasses to improve the quality of their work and to improve their imagery by reducing the amount of time taken by the painting to dry. Finally, it is safe to state that the painting has images of eight women who are bathing in a river with their clothes tossed to their right (Serée-Chaussinand, 125). Across them, a young man is lying on a stone watching them take a bath. Next, to the young man there are two dogs are assumed to be his based on the context of the image.
Works Cited
Garton, J. Grace and grandeur: the portraiture of Paolo Veronese. . Harvey Miller., 2008.
Krems, E. B. ” Nymphs Bathing in the King’s Garden: La Granja de San Ildefonso and Caserta. .” The Figure of the Nymph in Early Modern Culture, (2018): 337.
Marzillier, J. “Writing a memoir. .” Psychodynamic Practice, 17(1), (2011): 81-85.
Serée-Chaussinand, C. (2014). ” Actaeon Revisited: Seamus Heaney and Sinéad Morrissey Respond to Titian. .” New Hibernia Review, 18(4), (2014). 119-130.
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