My favorite piece shown in the film was The Astronomer by Johannes Vermeer. This is a painting of a man, presuambly an astronomer, looking over a globe. Done in 1668 with oil on canvas, this painting has survided a literal war. Although this painting was only briefly shown in the film, I knew I admired it immidiately. As mentioned above, art is about passion and expression. Both of these key elements are present in the Vermeer painting. Not only was his technique flawless, you can clearly see the passion put into the painting. From the wonder and awe carefully painted into the astronomer’s facial expression to his body language. To me, you can really see the passion in the character and to Vermeer, this may have been a canvas for expression, pun intended. This piece is currently on display at The Louvre in Paris. Another work shown in the film was the forever famous statue of David, sculpted by none other than Michelangelo himself. I think it’s impossible for someone to dislike this piece. Standing at 17 feet tall, it’s difficult not to marvel at this meticulous sculpture. Not only does it hold religious importance, it has also become a staple to Florentine culture. I love this piece so much due to its intense detail. The statute of David shows Michelangelo’s unmistakable passion for …show more content…
The first being the controversial Mona Lisa painted on wood with oil paints by the illustrious Leonardo Da Vinci. To me, there isn’t enough emotion or passion in this painting. The woman is stiff and ill-faced. She almost appears anamused. The background is dull and so is her outfit. It may just be the wear and tear of the picture given it was painted in the early 1500’s. However, this painting continues to be one of the most popular paintings known to man. I personally think the hype is due to the history behind the painting. Who is this woman? Why is she smiling? Where is she? No on will ever know. Not only was this painting enigmatic, people may have liked it simpl because it’s Da Vinci. He’s one of the most popular Renaissance painters. Who wouldn’t want to see his work in person? The Rape of Europa only showed one other image I didn’t necessarily care for. This was the Portrait of a Young Man, by Raphael. Crreated in 1514, the Portrait of a Young Man is comparable to the Mona Lisa. With a dull expression and boring surroundings, the paintings provoke the same emotions. Theres little real emotion shown in the painting and it leaves me feeling slightly uncomfortable.
Ultimately, art is art. Regardless of my opinions, someone will always find these pieces awe-inspiring. There is someone out there who doesn’t necessarily care for The Astronomer, but absolutely adores the Portrait of a Young Man. That’s something that I love