Saint Mary Magdalene Analysis

Musu Barbu

Art History

January,12 2018

An existence without the individual articulation of art would be static and sterile. Whether it’s a favorite photograph, painting or film, art is a vital part of humanity and is a creative process that deserves to be recognized and valued. It has been a part of mankind for as long as humanity has existed. Art has the ability to heal and be a place of comfort when needed. It can be a sense of unity by bringing families, communities, and even different parts of the geographic worlds together. Although there is history, without art society wouldn’t be able to understand the lives of older ancestors. Art is the physical

Altarpieces was one of the highest form of Christian art during the Italian Renaissance and often depicted the life of Christ. It was a way for the faithful to hear the message and then see it. The purpose of art work being on the alter was to make the altar the focal point of the church. Bergognone was known for his successful and popular altarpieces. He worked for major churches throughout Lombardy, including the Incoronata in Lodi and the Certosa of Pavia(). This painting, formed the center panel of a large polyptych. Its delicacy is typical of his work. Manny paintings of the Renaissance period was commissioned by or for the catholic church. Before the Renaissance it was the middle ages, where the church was the center of attention and superstition beliefs lead society. The Renaissance was an area that strayed away from that believe and revived the classical ideas, concepts, and knowledge of the ancient Greeks and Romans. This period had many characteristics that were not common with that ears before. New techniques were developed such as the introduction of oil painting and linear perceive. The painting Saint Mary Magdalene holds many characteristics of the Renaissance area. The painting depicts character from the life of Christ by the name of Mary Magdalene. She is always portrayed with long hair. The Renaissance element

During the Renascences time the element of light illuminates the details and forms of artistic subjects in a controlled fashion. In the Baroque era, on the other hand, light became the main subject. Baroque artists used intense contrasts between light and darkness, a technique called chiaroscuro (). During the reformation movement the Roman Catholic Church believed art was to serve as a means of extending the public’s faith in the church (). They wanted art at this time to encourage the faithful to return to the Catholic church. This is where the Baroque style of dramatic interpretations of subject matter, strong lighting, and powerful effects of movement evolved. These techniques can be seem used in most of Artemisia Gentileschi works. In Judith Slaying Holofernes, the painting portrays a story about a women name Judith and her maid who killed an Assyrian general and hung his head on a pike outside. This was a popular story to paint during this time, but usually not the way Artemisia did. They painted Judith after the deed was done and not the actual killing. The painting depicts the baroque characteristic of using the manipulation of light to bring the story it’s highest dramatic tension. The harsh contrasts of light and dark manifest for a further effect of dramatization and brutality to the painting. The contracting of