We’re not supposed to be callous toward art. And yet, we are, especially with art that is meant to and was created for the purpose of welling up emotion within our spirits. I suppose this has to do with modern…
Dear readers, I have to first apologize for the large gap in which I didn’t post anything. In mid-October I resigned from my old job, started a new job, and now things are finally dying down. I missed writing for…
Getting lost had made me tired. My fingers reached around the door handle and swung the door open, and my feet stepped into hallowed ground.Finally. My eyes adjusted to the warm lighting and my heart skipped a beat, for it…
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. …
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…
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 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…
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…
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…
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…
