Renaissance & Baroque Art Part 2

One of the renaissance artworks I saw at the museum is “The Adoration of the Shepherds” by the northern Italian Renaissance artist Andrea Mantegna, dated to 1450. The scene of this painting is set in an open space with the Madonna in the middle, adoring the child while kneeling on a stone, while her right St. Joseph is sleeping, and to her left two shepherds pray. The role of St. Joseph may be a guardian of the virgin and the child. The blasted tree which he leans on had born fruit on a single branch; the usual interpretation of this traditional feature is of the mystic renewal of nature under the new dispensation. On the far left is a fenced orchard that might be a symbolization of Mary’s virginity. On the right is the deep and richly detailed background is a wide landscape framed by two steep mountains, roads, and waterways. The big tree on the right background somewhat like the Calvary Cross. Unlike the Baroque arts, this painting has bright colors, precise drawing and many details on the background. Also, in this painting, there are so many elements of religion such as Madonna and many angels on the blue clouds. 

This Baroque artwork named “Esther before Ahasuerus” was created by an Italian Baroque painter Artemisia Gentileschi in 1628-1635. This is a classic Baroque that focuses on drama, human emotion, and splendor. The painting illustrates the story of the Jewish Queen Esther. After fasting for three days, Esther approached the King without permission, taking an enormous risk to save her people. The painting depicts Esther being supported by two of her handmaidens as she faints in fear of her husband’s reaction. The King who is here captured on the edge of his seat about to get up and catch his swooning wife, grants her request. Artemisia vividly and particularly depicted these four people’s facial expresses and actions such as it represents the King is concerned for the Queen when she falls down in a faint. The contrast of the intense light which is from left to right and the blurry background with deep color effectively highlight these figures and make them more solid. In addition, in order to highlight the Queen and King, painter represented their clothes with many clear textures, and the Queen’s yellow dress with a blue silk on her waist that becomes contrasting color. Also, the orange dress on the left handmaid contrasts with another handmaid who wears dark green, this is the contrast of warm and cool.