Transfiguration And Bill Viol Textual Analysis

The most striking factor about both Raphael's painting ‘Transfiguration' and Bill Viola's video piece ‘Five Angels for the Millennium' is the strong presence of an all mighty figure. Whilst Raphael's piece was incredibly obvious of this, Viola's work has subtle hints that sway towards a religious atmosphere. With a title containing ‘Five Angels' is a step towards a religious aspect but there is his idea that there is more than one surface to the world. There is a still from this piece that I feel is in homage to that of the Christ in Raphael's work, a certain still in which portrays the subject in mid submersion surrounded by a light blue halo. Creating a spiritual atmosphere, therefore ‘an enveloping emotional experience like that of a church'

This initial accusation states that painting is primarily being replaced by photography as a medium for portraiture, and, many other writers agree. An article by Journalist Michael Archer is opened with a strong title stating that ‘Portrait painting has never been so pointless' Michael Archer (2009). With such a drastic up-rise in technology, the need for history portraits is almost non-existent. Photography is a reflection of reality, a photo, therefore, proves that somebody exists, in contrast to a painting that can be heavily altered by an artist. Hence why religious photography does not exist, as we are not able to photograph god. A painter can create a portrait as they intend or as they see their subject, a photograph, however, is evidence of a real moment from life. Often with portrait painting, the artist's translation becomes more important than the subject themselves. Scientific objective truthfulness is what makes us feel at ease around a camera, the fact we will not be altered as a result of an artist’s perception. Modern technology can even accomplish brushstrokes within a painting. Photographers live by the factors of speed, precision and cheapness, their main advantages towards painters, as a painter cannot achieve a likeness to the speed a camera can. Even the price comparison is on photography's side, as portrait paintings were always commissioned by the rich or famous. Photography is a common man's medium, it is cheap to produce. Brik goes on to demonstrate that "Painting cannot transpose real colours, it can only copy". A painter's own interpretation of a colour may be different to another's, but a camera will always be true to the photo subject. Also, a painter's media can arise some differences. All painting media's give off a different effect, whether it is that of texture, tone or colour, they will never interpret the same subject identically. A main