The Baroque Period Artist
Belize S. Hopkins
AIU Online
HUMA205-1403B-10

Abstract

For this assignment I will discuss three types of Work of Art from three different artists from the Baroque period. The artist I chose to discuss is first, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio; secondly, Sebastian Salcedo and lastly, Peter Paul Rubens. The three of them were known for their religious theme with their art work. Each of the artists designed something totally different but all have a religious feeling attached.

My first artist is Rubens who was famous for the “Raising of the cross” which showed his amazing artwork.

A Description of the work
The artwork “Raising of the Cross” shows that ability Rubens had to design great artwork. The soldiers display their strength as shown by the muscles in the backs, arms, and legs of these men as they lift Jesus while nailed to the cross up the hill. The detail in the trees, bodies, and clothing of the subjects is reflective of the baroque style.
This is an oil-on-canvas painting and was completed in 1610-1611. The painting has three panels. The panel on the left shows Jesus’ followers mourning after Jesus’ death. The middle panel shows several men with muscles trying to raise the wooden cross upright after Jesus had died. The final panel on the right shows the solders overseeing the execution making sure the people did not disturb the execution of Jesus.
“The Raising of the Cross” marked Rubens outstanding introduction of baroque style into Northern Art. His unmatched talent is prominent in his display of powerful passion. Rubens was a staunch Catholic and famous for his creativity in displaying intense emotions in his masterpieces. He made use of classical baroque techniques in this painting to accentuate superior religious truths. He exposes to the viewer the powerful contrast between light and dark as well as the oblique being that struggles to lift Christ to his death. Contrast between dark and light act as a representation of the celestial battle between good and evil as seen in the painting. He was highly inspired by baroque masters such as Caravaggio and developed his own style of dramatic and expansive paintings that often took the form of altarpieces.
The three-paneled altarpiece, also called the triptych, was painted for St. Walpurgis in Antwerp. The French seized the painting and fled with it to Paris in 1974. After the defeat of the great ruler Napoleon in 1815, the painting was returned to the Cathedral of Our Lady in Antwerp, where it can still be viewed. Ruben displayed his artistic greatness by excellently capturing drama, silent silence and graciousness that revolved around the death of Christ. Through the painting, he capitalized his knowledge of Renaissance painting with much resourcefulness and originality. The painting is considered a brilliant exemplary of the European artistry because of its relations to the tale of the nobleness of Jesus Christ. It was renovated in the 1980s removing the grey film that covered it. This revealed the brilliant colors and contrasts of the painter.
About the Artist
It is stated that Peter Paul Rubens (June 28, 1577 - May 30, 1640) was a creative seventeenth-century Baroque painter, and a supporter of Baroque style that highlighted movement, color, and sensuality. He was born in Siegen, Westphalia but after his father’s death, his mom moved and raised him in Antwerp. In Antwerp, he began his artistic apprenticeship at age 14 under Tobias Verhaeght. After he graduated he started his eight year tour of Italy. In 1609 he returned to Antwerp. With special permission he opened up his own studio with numerous students and assistants to study under him by 1610. His work consisted of religious subjects and mythological subjects. His famous piece is the “Raising of the Cross” as it is seen as the epitome of Baroque religious art. Peter Paul Rubens, is known for Mercury Departing from Antwerp, Charles V and