When thinking about art or viewing art it is important that one is aware of the fact that many pieces that have been produced have been influenced by pieces that came before them. Sometimes they can be influenced by other pieces by the same artist and other times it can be a completely different artist that influences a specific piece. That is what I want to do today throughout the duration of this paper. The two paintings that I will be comparing and contrasting are the Crucifixion by Lucas Cranach the elder and another painting by Luas Cranach titled the Crucifixion. I know that these paintings are by the same artist and have the exact same name so one may think they are the exact same painting, but they are two separate paintings. I chose
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These two paintings have a clear similarity being that they are both depicting the exact same scene of Christ being crucified on the cross. This leads to another enormous similarity that each of these two paintings clearly have religious meanings behind them as well. Along with having the same story being shown within the painting Cranach also placed both the good and the bad thieves in the painting as well. I also noticed that in each of the paintings Cranach also placed the thieves behind Christ rather than right beside him. In each painting Christ is also in the center of the painting which would lead one to believe he is the important character in the painting. Another distinct similarity is the fact that in each of the paintings Christ’s head is resting to the right pointed towards the good thief. One similarity that may sneak past someone that isn’t familiar with this scene is the fact that in each of the paintings depicts a Monk, a Cardinal, and a Turk (Indianapolis Museum of Art). In Fig. 1 they are depicted directly behind Christ and in Fig. 2 they are depicted to the left of Christ. These three characters in each of the paintings represents the unenlightened which is a clear reference to the church reform taking place during that time (Indianapolis Museum of Art). Each painting also depicts one slightly more subtle similarity was the fact that in both paintings the good and the bad thieves are both facing Christ rather than facing forward. The Virgin Mary, St. John the Evangelist, and Mary Magdalene are all depicted in each of the two paintings mourning the death of Christ as well (Indianapolis Museum of
These two paintings have a clear similarity being that they are both depicting the exact same scene of Christ being crucified on the cross. This leads to another enormous similarity that each of these two paintings clearly have religious meanings behind them as well. Along with having the same story being shown within the painting Cranach also placed both the good and the bad thieves in the painting as well. I also noticed that in each of the paintings Cranach also placed the thieves behind Christ rather than right beside him. In each painting Christ is also in the center of the painting which would lead one to believe he is the important character in the painting. Another distinct similarity is the fact that in each of the paintings Christ’s head is resting to the right pointed towards the good thief. One similarity that may sneak past someone that isn’t familiar with this scene is the fact that in each of the paintings depicts a Monk, a Cardinal, and a Turk (Indianapolis Museum of Art). In Fig. 1 they are depicted directly behind Christ and in Fig. 2 they are depicted to the left of Christ. These three characters in each of the paintings represents the unenlightened which is a clear reference to the church reform taking place during that time (Indianapolis Museum of Art). Each painting also depicts one slightly more subtle similarity was the fact that in both paintings the good and the bad thieves are both facing Christ rather than facing forward. The Virgin Mary, St. John the Evangelist, and Mary Magdalene are all depicted in each of the two paintings mourning the death of Christ as well (Indianapolis Museum of