Caravaggio’s painting inspired a new style of painting throughout Europe in the seventeenth century. His personal touch on the new Baroque style of painting inspired painters in both southern and northern Europe in the seventeenth century. One painter in particular from Spain is Francisco de Zurbaran. His St. Serapion is an amazing example of Caravaggio’s influence. In St. Serapion first on foremost one must note the use of tenebrism the strong light and dark contrast in the figure and also more specifically in the deference between background and foreground. Through the use of tenebrism the figure is brought forward into a place of prominence the viewer is forced to face the subject and the scene at hand with no other visual elements to force the eyes attention. The use of the color red must also be noted in this painting. Red was often used by Caravaggio to set an intense mood and tone is this is also the case with the red emblem in the St. Serapion painting. Interest in naturalism was a strong part of the Baroque style as well as part of Caravaggio’s interest and this can be seen in the positioning of the figure and the realistic way in which both the hands hang from the ropes and the way that the fabric is draped and bunching up on the figure. The figure looks like a Spanish man and is therefore is not an idealized depiction of a man.
Another painter from a different part of Europe who was also clearly influenced by the painting of Caravaggio is Hendrick ter Brugghen of the Netherlands. Caravaggio’s influence can be easily seen in the painting St. Sebastian Tended by St. Irene. One of the first and most obvious signs of Caravaggio’s influence again is the use of tenebrism however in this painting there is a background. A distant sunset is visible as well as a large gloomy looking tree behind the figures. The figure in the foregrounds hand and body down to the tip of his toes in the bottom corner of the composition strongly reference the use of hard diagonals as did Caravaggio’s work and the Baroque style. This piece also has a strong use of naturalism that can be seen on the faces of the women the color of the figures skin as well as the blood running from the wounds and the way the figures skin is bunched up were it is bound. Caravaggio was very interested in dirty gritty and raw naturalism that could be seen on the grungy figures and dirty appendages in his paintings.
Both of these painting feature a high sense of drama and emotion that is accentuated through the use of tenebrism and the way the paintings show of a moment that is happening currently or just about to take place. Both painters still hold true to some classical styles and subject matter but the influence of Caravaggio is very strong in both paintings and they show that his influence was carried all over Europe throughout this period of art.
I like how you said tenebrism helps to push the viewer into the foreground of the "St. Serapion" painting. That's a good observation. Along these lines, I think that the monochromatic background also makes the picture plane very shallow.
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Since the first painting was painted for monks according to text I am wondering if the red emblem is sort of a monastic propaganda to keep people in order a reminder using not only the saint but a strong emphasized symbol. I find the second image seems to still have a lot of strong renaissance influence with the more perfect to pasty white skin and the atmospheric haze in the background. This image is sort of a puzzler to me I am not sure why the hand in the upper left fades into the background and the other hands indicated as untying that wrist it seems to really flatten the entire image for me along with feeling reminiscent of mannerism and crowding space. I am glad you picked this image now that I have looked at it more closely its really sort of an odd image.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree the use of dark colors and light colors really make de Zurbaran’s St. Serapion piece eye catching. The use of only a few colors also helps draw the eye into the detail of the piece. This piece really gives the viewer an emotional reaction, the stillness of his body and the positioning of his body really gives a sad/tragic feel. With the attention to detail on his face, hands, drapery on the clothing, and the shadowing make this piece lifelike, almost like a photograph. The one thing about this piece that also stands out to me is what looks like a piece of paper on the right side of the St. Serapion. Wonder why that was placed within the piece?
ReplyDeleteI love that the Baroque style has such a feel of naturalism that we have not been seeing as obvious in the earlier pieces. I think that the idea of showing each person as regular is so relatable for the viewer because we are not all the ideal body. I also feel that the emphasis on emotion makes these pieces so interesting.
ReplyDeleteI find the dramatic tone that Caravaggio brought is beautiful and having artists expand off of his ideas made art in this time period very interesting, and beautiful. I could study St. Sebastian Tended for a long time, and still be fascinated with the deep dramatic colors and subject matter of this painting.
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