Comparing Venus Of Urbino And The Nightmare

Sensuality through Venus of Urbino and The Nightmare The Renaissance and Romantic period are two very influential and important periods in art history. During these periods many amazing works of art were created. This essay will compare and contrast two of these pieces. The first piece of art is Titian’s oil painting of the Venus of Urbino, completed in 1538, during the Renaissance. The second piece of art is Henry Fuseli’s oil painting of The Nightmare, created in 1781, during the Romantic period. Both of these pieces reflect the artistic progression of their ages. The Venus of Urbino represents “the ideals of beauty and erotic predilections of the High Renaissance” (Hagen and Hagen), while The Nightmare reflects the intense emotion of

Fuseli uses a palette that almost seems achromatic from a distance. He uses mainly dark colors throughout his piece, such as black, gray, and brown. On the contrary he does use bright white in the woman’s garment, and as you look closer you can see the subtle use of dull reds in the sheets. Titian used a much wider and brighter color palette. Immediately you notice the deep reds in the servants garment, bedding, and flowers. The bright whites in the sheets and child’s clothing almost jump right out of the piece. The use of yellows, blues, and reds throughout the Venus of Urbino really give a more regal appearance to the

These messages are in direct relation to the periods in which they were painted. The Venus of Urbino contains teachings for the young wife and was meant to express the Duke’s feelings toward her. The Renaissance period was a time where there was a large rebirth of classical literature and art, and Titian wanted to represent what the perfect woman for this time would look like. To portray beauty, love, fidelity, passion, and sensuality. The painting contains a dog at the foot of the woman’s bed. The dog is meant to be a symbol of fidelity. It also portrays a maid looking over a child, which is a symbol of motherhood. The bouquet of flowers in the woman’s hand is meant to reflect beauty. The Romantic period was one that offered a different view of Enlightenment, through imaginary, exotic, lustful, violent and sometimes terrifying images. Even in a time that these views were being portrayed Fuseli’s painting, The Nightmare, shocked its audience and really was the reason he became noticed. There are references to folk lore and symbolism throughout his entire piece, just as in the Venus of Urbino. Artists began to create metaphors for feelings and ideas, through the use of animals in their art during this period. “Although there is apparently no direct etymological link between the nightmare and the mare, nightmares are intimately connected with horses and the metaphor of “riding” in folk