Thesis: Early Northern Renaissance and later Northern Renaissance differences are subtle, but can be observed through the layers of symbolism and emphasis on particular ascetics of a piece. Throughout the all of Europe, depictions of the Virgin and Child was a common motif among artists. This essay will be exploring the similarities and the differences of the symbolism these two artists and the exact same subject.
Acting as the focal point of my thesis is Jacque Bellange’s etching Madonna with a Rose (1595-1616) . In his work the Christ child’s hand gesture resembles the deaf sign language for ‘love’ rather than the usual blessing gesture. This piece is an old master print etching; an old master print refers to an artwork made by a printing process within the Western tradition. This work is measured at 7” 11/16 X 5.5” thus making it approximately the size of a regular sheet of paper (8.5” X 11”) bent horizontally. As an etching this …show more content…
Traditionally in European Christianity, Joseph is a severely looked over figure. By depicting him asleep Durer can be trying to convey a plethora of themes. Another peculiar sleeping subject is the focal point of Francisco Goya’s painting The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters (1798). Joseph fast asleep can be interpreted as his ignorance to the true importance of the holy prophecy of his son Jesus Christ and the other holy figures shall bring about. In Goya’s piece, the unconscious Reason once incapacitated allows monsters to roam. In the same way, Joseph’s ultimate compliancy for God’s will, (angel stopped Joseph from quietly sending Mary away) and allowed the Christian messiah to be raised properly. Without Joseph the story of Jesus Christ would be incomplete, coextensively the Holy Spirit completes the Holy Trinity, although it goes unnoticed. This is one of many interpretations of the sleeping
Acting as the focal point of my thesis is Jacque Bellange’s etching Madonna with a Rose (1595-1616) . In his work the Christ child’s hand gesture resembles the deaf sign language for ‘love’ rather than the usual blessing gesture. This piece is an old master print etching; an old master print refers to an artwork made by a printing process within the Western tradition. This work is measured at 7” 11/16 X 5.5” thus making it approximately the size of a regular sheet of paper (8.5” X 11”) bent horizontally. As an etching this …show more content…
Traditionally in European Christianity, Joseph is a severely looked over figure. By depicting him asleep Durer can be trying to convey a plethora of themes. Another peculiar sleeping subject is the focal point of Francisco Goya’s painting The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters (1798). Joseph fast asleep can be interpreted as his ignorance to the true importance of the holy prophecy of his son Jesus Christ and the other holy figures shall bring about. In Goya’s piece, the unconscious Reason once incapacitated allows monsters to roam. In the same way, Joseph’s ultimate compliancy for God’s will, (angel stopped Joseph from quietly sending Mary away) and allowed the Christian messiah to be raised properly. Without Joseph the story of Jesus Christ would be incomplete, coextensively the Holy Spirit completes the Holy Trinity, although it goes unnoticed. This is one of many interpretations of the sleeping