Introduction
The ‘Calling of St Mathew’ and ‘The Last Supper’ are beautiful and renowned pieces of artwork, created by two artistically gifted individuals who are regarded as among the all-time greats in Western Art. As a result, they hold an influential place in Western Art history, commanding great influence on contemporary artists. The ‘Calling of St. Matthew’ is an oil painting set on a 322 × 340 cm canvas. It was painted between 1599 and 1600 by the Italian Baroque master Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio who was born in 1571 and lived for 39 years before his demise in 1610. The painting is situated in the Contarelli Chapel, Church of San Luigi dei Francesci in the city of Rome. Caravaggio’s short life was full of tragic events. For instance, he killed a man and was constantly engaged in sprawls. ‘The calling of St. Matthew’ illustrates the Biblical story of Jesus Christ calling Mathew, a corrupt Jewish tax-collector to abandon his earthily ways and follow Godly ways. The picture depicts the apostles seated or standing around Christ in four distinct groups of three disciples each. What unites each of the four groups is their different posture and as well as gestures. Notably, there is a shadow that gradients down the wall which guides one’s eye to the hand of Christ to St Matthew’s self-indicating hand. The painting is characteristic of Caravaggio’s oeuvres that comprise various religious episodes. The painting is set in shallow space and includes dramatic lighting and iconology by powerful human gestures. According to leonardoda-vinci.org, ‘The Last Supper’ is a painting that is 346.46 inch wide x 181.10 inch high by Leonardo da Vinci that he drew between 1495 and 1498 using oil paints and is set on Stucco. It displays a large table with Jesus and his disciples seated or standing behind it, six to the right and six to the left hand sides of Christ. Leonardo da Vinci was born in Vinci, near Florence in 1452 and died in 1519. He stands out as one of the most intriguing artists in the history of Western Art. Like many of his counterparts of his time, Leonardo da Vinci makes extensive use of light and shadows in ‘The Last Supper.’ It is situated on the wall of the refectory of St. Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy and captures the Biblical story of the Eucharist in which Christ reveals to his disciples of the impeding betrayal by one of them. The Last supper stands out as one of the most renowned paintings of the High Renaissance era and has been described as a masterwork of intense narrative and refined illustrative illusionism. Similarities between Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Last Supper’ and Caravaggio’s Calling of St. Mathew.’ Both paintings are fascinating pieces of artwork by genius artists considered great artists not only of their time but of all times. …show more content…
The paintings exercise an intense and covert power over their audiences in a manner that evokes different feelings and perceptions. As such, it is not uncommon to find admirers and critics alike. The paintings are universally recognized and appreciated while at the same time, they continue to attract endless criticism and scrutiny. Caravaggio and da Vinci’s paintings exhibit salient gestures and expressive faces. The paintings are symbolic of the two spiritual Biblical moments that took place during Jesus’ life on earth. The two artists present the paintings in a classical manner that enables the audiences to relate to them by evoking their religious feelings. The paintings are symbolic of the Biblical transformations that took place at the time. Distinctive of his oeuvres, Caravaggio’s the “Calling of St Mathew is reminiscent of his unique power and passion, (Bayer and Gregori 123). Both artists make extensive use of light and shadows in their paintings. Caravaggio’s use of light and shadow vividly adds drama to this painting and helps to give the figures some quality of contiguity. He uses warm low lights that effectively warm the deep red faces of the persons captured in the painting. Consequently, he manages to bring the entire painting to life by use of vivid colors of different contrasts and textures that enable him to present the various gestures and expressions of the different figures. In addition, it enables him
The ‘Calling of St Mathew’ and ‘The Last Supper’ are beautiful and renowned pieces of artwork, created by two artistically gifted individuals who are regarded as among the all-time greats in Western Art. As a result, they hold an influential place in Western Art history, commanding great influence on contemporary artists. The ‘Calling of St. Matthew’ is an oil painting set on a 322 × 340 cm canvas. It was painted between 1599 and 1600 by the Italian Baroque master Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio who was born in 1571 and lived for 39 years before his demise in 1610. The painting is situated in the Contarelli Chapel, Church of San Luigi dei Francesci in the city of Rome. Caravaggio’s short life was full of tragic events. For instance, he killed a man and was constantly engaged in sprawls. ‘The calling of St. Matthew’ illustrates the Biblical story of Jesus Christ calling Mathew, a corrupt Jewish tax-collector to abandon his earthily ways and follow Godly ways. The picture depicts the apostles seated or standing around Christ in four distinct groups of three disciples each. What unites each of the four groups is their different posture and as well as gestures. Notably, there is a shadow that gradients down the wall which guides one’s eye to the hand of Christ to St Matthew’s self-indicating hand. The painting is characteristic of Caravaggio’s oeuvres that comprise various religious episodes. The painting is set in shallow space and includes dramatic lighting and iconology by powerful human gestures. According to leonardoda-vinci.org, ‘The Last Supper’ is a painting that is 346.46 inch wide x 181.10 inch high by Leonardo da Vinci that he drew between 1495 and 1498 using oil paints and is set on Stucco. It displays a large table with Jesus and his disciples seated or standing behind it, six to the right and six to the left hand sides of Christ. Leonardo da Vinci was born in Vinci, near Florence in 1452 and died in 1519. He stands out as one of the most intriguing artists in the history of Western Art. Like many of his counterparts of his time, Leonardo da Vinci makes extensive use of light and shadows in ‘The Last Supper.’ It is situated on the wall of the refectory of St. Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy and captures the Biblical story of the Eucharist in which Christ reveals to his disciples of the impeding betrayal by one of them. The Last supper stands out as one of the most renowned paintings of the High Renaissance era and has been described as a masterwork of intense narrative and refined illustrative illusionism. Similarities between Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Last Supper’ and Caravaggio’s Calling of St. Mathew.’ Both paintings are fascinating pieces of artwork by genius artists considered great artists not only of their time but of all times. …show more content…
The paintings exercise an intense and covert power over their audiences in a manner that evokes different feelings and perceptions. As such, it is not uncommon to find admirers and critics alike. The paintings are universally recognized and appreciated while at the same time, they continue to attract endless criticism and scrutiny. Caravaggio and da Vinci’s paintings exhibit salient gestures and expressive faces. The paintings are symbolic of the two spiritual Biblical moments that took place during Jesus’ life on earth. The two artists present the paintings in a classical manner that enables the audiences to relate to them by evoking their religious feelings. The paintings are symbolic of the Biblical transformations that took place at the time. Distinctive of his oeuvres, Caravaggio’s the “Calling of St Mathew is reminiscent of his unique power and passion, (Bayer and Gregori 123). Both artists make extensive use of light and shadows in their paintings. Caravaggio’s use of light and shadow vividly adds drama to this painting and helps to give the figures some quality of contiguity. He uses warm low lights that effectively warm the deep red faces of the persons captured in the painting. Consequently, he manages to bring the entire painting to life by use of vivid colors of different contrasts and textures that enable him to present the various gestures and expressions of the different figures. In addition, it enables him