On Halloween, Remember You Will Die.
I’ve never been big on Halloween. I’m more of a Christmas person, but Halloween is an opportunity to explore some of the creepiest Baroque art I can think of. Trust me, I’m sure there are spookier examples in Baroque than…
Baroque Spain: El Greco. A Lonely and Royal Christ.
I want to preface today’s discussion by noting that I’ve included El Greco in this series on Spanish Baroque because, in Spain, he is the link between “mannerism” and the “true Baroque” style. He combined mannerist forms with Baroque drama. …
Baroque Spain: El Greco. Death and the Supernatural.
This week in the Spanish Baroque series will be a little different. We’re going to take a look at the art of El Greco. Today, we’ll examine his Burial of the Count of Orgaz. I will try to post a…
Steve Jobs.
As I’m sure you are all aware, Steve Jobs died yesterday. The world lost a truly brilliant man. He deserves attention here, because his creativity and innovations were integral to my personal and academic life. Growing up, I would gather around the…
Baroque Spain: Devotion on Canvas.
In 1622, Pope Gregory XV began restoring and tightening Rome’s grip on the Church’s rightful and overwhelming influence in the world. (His successor, Urban VIII, continued his work and founded a missionary training college that would send messengers of the…
Happy 440th Birthday, Caravaggio!
Happy Birthday, Caravaggio! You’ve had a great year. People all over the world, especially Italy, celebrated the 400th anniversary of your death on July 18, 1610. Exhibits displaying your masterpieces sprung up internationally, a couple new books about your life…
King David: Symbol of Perfection and Justice
Note: This is part two of my series on Renaissance and Baroque depictions of David. Part One of this series explored the story of King David and, despite his shortcomings, how he came to be a Renaissance hero. Not only…
Baroque Spain: Experience Christ.
Save the art of Baroque Italy, nothing approaches the intense spirituality of Spanish Baroque art. Through a series of short essays over the next few weeks, we’ll explore the art, religious history, and politics of this militant, devoutly Catholic country in…
It’s hard not to love Caravaggio.
What’s not to love about Caravaggio? He was talented, considerably wealthy, popular, and maintained a sultry bad-boy image. He created an in-demand artistic style that attracted the most powerful patrons in Rome and numerous followers. For all his merits, he…
King David: Hero, Sinner, Friend of God.
King David. When he was only a teenager, he was anointed by Israel’s prophet, Samuel, to be Israel’s next king. God needed to restore purity in his appointed earthly rulers after Saul defiled his divinely appointed post by disobeying God and taking…
