INTRODUCTION
Different artists have portrayed the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Painting is a relevant source to depict the life of Jesus Christ. This research paper is based on six paintings by two artists. These artists intended to portray different phases of the life of their lord. Each painting will be evaluated in terms of the message, content, style, cultural trends, and science of their day. The purpose of this research essay is to streamline the message that has been portrayed by these artists. Interestingly, the research paper will be based on the artist’s intent and viewer reception. When evaluating artistic work or content, it is necessary to carry some ethical considerations as well. It seems worthy to present the perceptions without impairing any work. It is a fact that looking at pictures requires attention to drive insights. By looking at six paintings, I can present what artists intended to do to what extent. Of course, it is challenging. However, it is interesting to create space for new arguments. Artistic work is always open, as everyone can make perceptions and build arguments. Artists such as Caravaggio and Piero Della Francesca have exhibited the life, death, and resurrection remarkably. However, both works are different from each other.
THESIS STATEMENT
“Artists have portrayed Jesus Christ through paintings, as they intended to navigate history and people’s perception to come out with a depiction that can help to understand the life and science of that time.”
PAINTINGS FROM PIERO DELLA FRANCESCA
Piero Della Francesca the Nativity
The vision of nativity came from a Scandinavian woman back in the 1370s. According to her narrative, she witnessed her nativity. She described, “When I was present by the manager of the Lord in Bethlehem.”(Para 1). Thus, Francesca used this vision an up with an incredible painting, which depicted the nativity of Jesus Christ. IT was da remarkable attainment, as it was kept in the national gallery and loved by people. The painting incredibly showed a virgin woman on her knees, praying for her child. The depiction of a virgin mother and a child is quite attractive. The artist used different colored robes, which represented the culture of that time. People used to celebrate childbirth by singing and strumming. The painting showed the origin of Jesus Christ as he came to the land without his father. The painting showed the culture of the people at that time, as they celebrate openly. The baby is lying on the ground, and people are just signing without considering any threat to the child due to stiffness and coldness of the land. People are dressed up in their way and gathered near a child. Francesca also depicted that the child in the groups is not ordinary (Gayford).
Piero Della Francesca Baptism of Christ
The artist has also portrayed a Christian sacrament signifying spiritual cleansing and rebirth through his painting. CHATTO explained this remarkable depiction by presenting some key insights. His emphasis was on colors, styles, cultural and religious trends in an era of Jesus Christ. In this painting, a man is standing among people waiting for falling water by another man. The artist showed how people at that time used to make themselves away from sins. The concept of Baptism is demonstrated. Interestingly, this remarkable artwork is a kind of lesson for modern artists. Jesus Christ was the man who introduced Baptism to his followers. A man, shown right behind them is also ready to dig in the water to get the spirit of God. “The walnut tree is the largest feature” (Para, 2). Author, when explaining the content or artwork, mentioned the tree behind people who are practicing Baptism. The tree is associated with cultural and religious attachments as well. In short, the artist tried to come up with all those elements, which are necessary for Baptism. It seems a masterpiece, which depicted the religious science of that time (Chatto).
Piero Della Francesca the Resurrection
The rising of Christ on the third day after Piero Della Francesca has also demonstrated the Crucifixion. In this magnificent artwork, the artist tried to tell the story of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In this painting, Jesus Christ is standing with a flag. He tried to show people started mourning after the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. However, he remained by the blessing of God. The positioning showed the victory of Jesus Christ and his followers. Interestingly, the artist tried to demonstrate the position of Jesus Christ between different symbols. The perception of people after viewing this artwork is not the same. For Instance, it can be seen that Jesus Christ’s right foot is still in the tomb. However, the left foot on the sarcophagus edge is justifying the resurrection (Posèq). The position of Jesus Christ showed that he is walking to the afterlife. Guards also believed that he went to another life where the blessing of God is waiting for him. “He combined pictorial depth with the temporal connotations of left and right, which are not envisaged in the theory of perspective” (Posèq 12).
Coming to the style and approach of this artwork, the artist used a linear perspective. He intended to shape a novel to represent the evolvement or passage of time.
PAINTINGS FROM CARAVAGGIO
Caravaggio Supper at Emmaus
Caravaggio created supper at Emmaus. He intended to present the story from St. Luke’s Gospel. In this painting, Jesus Christ’s apostles invited the stranger to share the meal with them. However, people around the stranger realized that they are talking to Jesus Christ. Through this incredible artwork, the artist has justified the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Two men sitting around the stranger realized that they are taking to an extraordinary man. The painting portrayed the miracle of unimaginable power. Interestingly, the author tried to freeze that moment and let people recognize apostles. The painting seems compelling because it drives the sense of shock and astonishment. The purpose of freezing this moment was to observe the people’s reaction when they suddenly saw or talked to their messiah. “By introducing a fade-out effect to simulate Jesus’ disappearance, Rembrandt inverted the conventional values of light and shadow as established in Western painting” (P.522). It has been revealed that the artist used lights and shadows in his work to show the appearance and disappearance of Jesus Christ. The light seems dull with clear face depiction. Jesus with closed eyes out questions in people’s minds, and of course, as the painting suggests, they had to find answers at their own (Pericolo).
The Taking of Christ-Caravaggio
The taking of Christ is one of the proud works done by any painter in art history. Artists used light and dark in the same image to portray the event and let people understand the consequences. In this figure, artists covered many characters. For Instance, he showed ST. John, as he tried to get rid of the situation. Importantly, in this explicit depiction of taking of Christ, he seems sad. However, everyone who views this painting knows that Jesus Christ accepted his fate. In a dark and light background, guards wearing helmets are taking him. “Judas kisses Jesus, but it is not stated there that Judas Lips touched Christ” (P, 22). Taking of Jesus Christ is a sad story, and depiction of the whole story and freezing the event made this artwork valuable (Apesos).
The Entombment of Christ Caravaggio
The Entombment of Christ is emotionally attached to people in Christianity. Painter Caravaggio showed emotional and remarkable scenes. The author painted a few people in the entombment process. The burial of Christ is the standard depiction of the religion, as it tells the story of the death of Jesus Christ by Romans. The purpose of this painting was to streamline the general obsession with death. People have to remember the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, coming to the content of the painting, it has been observed that the burial is not macabre. People who are involved in Jesus Christ’s entombment are passionate, as they loved and follow his whole life. Three women and a man took part in this process. Artist used a dark background. Jesus is almost naked, as it seemed tradition, which was to be followed after death at that time. The sadness and passion for faces helped to understand the emotional and sentimental attachments of people with Jesus Christ. “Many have a beauty and intimacy that raise the opposite type of emotion” (P, 216). The purpose of this painting was to streamline the opposite side of emotion, primarily when people used for particulate in the entombment process of their messiah (Mackenbach)
CONCLUSION
In the end, it is to conclude that the life of Jesus Christ, culture, religious traits, and science of those days creates an impact on people in Christianity. Two artists, Caravaggio and Piero Della Francesca came up with some remarkable works. In this comprehensive research paper, separately, insights regarding each painting are presented along with related quotes and sources.
Work Cited
Apesos, Anthony. “The painter as Evangelist in Caravaggio’s Taking of Christ.” Aurora, The Journal of the History of Art, vol. 11, 2010, p. 21+. Gale In Context: World History. Accessed 16 Sept. 2019.
Chatto, Lady Sarah. “The Baptism of Christ by Piero Della Francesca.” Country Life Nov 14 2018: 90. ProQuest. Web. 16 Sep. 2019.
Gayford, Martin. “Piero Della Francesca’s ‘Nativity’.” The Spectator Dec 15 2018ProQuest. Web. 16 Sep. 2019.
Mackenbach, Johan P. “Dead Body with Mourners: Medical Reflections on the Entombment of Christ.” BMJ: British Medical Journal 327.7408 (2003): 215. ProQuest. Web. 16 Sep. 2019.
Pericolo, Lorenzo. “Visualizing Appearance and Disappearance: On Caravaggio’s London Supper at Emmaus.” The Art Bulletin 89.3 (2007): 519-0_7. ProQuest. Web. 16 Sep. 2019.
Posèq, Avigdor W. G. “CHRONOGRAPHY OF SPACE IN PIERO DELLA FRANCESCA.” Source: Notes in the History of Art, vol. 25, no. 2, 2006, pp. 5–13.
