The Seven Acts of Mercy by Caravaggio

Caravaggio (1571-1610) was an Italian painter with a unique and successful artistic approach of subject matter that encompass both naturalism(realistic presentation) and chiaroscuro (light-dark contrasting) styles.  The convergence of the two styles can be seen in The Calling of Saint Matthew (1599-1600) and also in The Seven Acts of Mercy (1607) causing an actual feel of presence from the subject matter in each painting.  In the Calling of Saint Mathew, which describes Jesus asking Matthew to become one of his disciples (Matthew 9:9), each element (window, table, and tax collectors) are presented in a truthfully way and appear real.  Also the use of dark areas, and light areas combined to create the effect of real objects using space (volume).   The beam of light, seems to shine on the faces at the table and cast a shadow with the shudder on the window.  In The Seven Acts of Mercy, Caravaggio combines all seven acts into one presentation.  The seven acts of mercy are:  
       
1. Bury the dead; In the background, two men carry a dead man (of whom only the feet are visible).
2 and 3. Visit the imprisoned, and feed the hungry; On the right, a woman visits an imprisoned man and gives him milk from her breast. This image alludes to the classical story of Roman Charity.
4. Shelter the homeless; A pilgrim (third from left, as identified by the shell in his hat) asks an innkeeper (at far left) for shelter.
5. Clothe the naked; St. Martin of Tours, fourth from the left, has torn his robe in half and given it to the naked beggar in the foreground, recalling the saint's popular legend.
6. Visit the sick; St. Martin greets and comforts the beggar who is a cripple.
7. Refresh the thirsty; Samson (second from the left) drinks water from the jawbone of an ass.  (Source - Wikipedia)

The Seven Acts of Mercy, with Caravaggio directing what we "see", seem to come to life and offer a sense of faith and believability.  Again, characters are drawn in a realistic style with color, and size and in addition, with dark-light contrast to create a natural/real setting.  The source of lighting appears to come from the left side of the painting, which is evidenced by the shadow cast by the angels wings onto the right of building(opposite side of the painting).  Its shines from left to right.  This is accomplished by either leaving certain areas untouched on the canvas and adding/editing media on the canvas.  The angel's arm reaching down, is surrounding by heavily dark painted section. The contrast causes a perceived "lighting" effect and causes the subject matter to display an inferred volume.

Staute of Liberty by Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi

Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi (2 August 1834 – 4 October 1904) was a French sculptor widely known for designing and shaping the Statue of Liberty and works of Marquis de Lafayette and George Washington.  The Statue of Liberty, Liberty Enlightening the World, was completed/dedicated at Liberty Island, New York Harbor in 1886.  It is made of hammered sheet copper that is attached to an iron skeleton.  It stands 151 feet tall with a granite pedestal.  As an installation with artistic expression, the Statute of Liberty is Bartholdi attempt to create a physical embodiment of liberty.  Liberty is defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary as meaning "the quality or state of being free; the power to do as one pleases; freedom from arbitrary control; the positive enjoyment of various social, political, or economic rights and privileges; and the power of choice".

Bartholdi is able to express the spirit of liberty in several ways.  First, the figure is posed as stepping forward with a set of broken shackles around both feet.  This offers a strong visual clue that the figure is opposing slavery and political oppression.  Secondly, the statue is holding a torch with rays of light from her crown while holding a tablet with the date of Declaration of Independence. One widely known quotation in the Declaration of Independence is: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Lastly, the figure is female.  During the 1800s,  the people of France overthrew the last Bourbon monarch, Charles X, and Louis-Phillipe I Duke of Orleans.  The event is known as the French Revolution of 1830, the July Revolution which inspired Eugene Delacroix, a French painter, to create Liberty Leading the People circa 1830.  The painting shows a goddess figure leading people over dead corpses while holding the French flag.   Delacroix's female figure remains as a symbol of French Revolution and a strong icon of freedom in general as shown further thru Bartholdi's Statue of Liberty.

 

 

 

Sources:

 

Durante, Dianne L. (2012-04-20). The Statue of Liberty: Timeless Art, Political Hot Topic (Forgotten Delights:New York Sculpture) (Kindle Location 91). www.ForgottenDelights.com. Kindle Edition. 

The Creation of Man by Michelangelo

Michelangelo Buonarotti (1475-1564) was an Italian painter, architect, and sculptor.  Similar to Leonardo da Vinci, he also displayed an expertise in several fields of science and the arts.  Widely known for this work, the PIETÀ,  a sculpture of Christ after the crucifixion in the arms of his mother Mary, and the Final Judgment,  which depicts the Second Coming of Jesus, and the Creation of Man.  Both the Final Judgment and the Creation of Man are located in the Sistine Chapel, the Pope's residence at the Vatican City.  In 1508, the Pope, Julius II commissioned Michelangelo to adorn the chapel with illustrated stories from the Bible, book of Genesis.  The work was completed in 1512.
     The Creation of Man(Adam) was created using a painting technique called fresco which  involves using water based pigments laid directly on to newly placed plaster or gypsum. The painting is conceptually based on a passage in Genesis 1:27,  "So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."  Upon reading the passage, any reader would conceptualize a image of God carving into a slab of earth to create Adam.   But it seems Michelangelo has taken the concept of man's creation a step further.  "Michelangelo takes these words, and expresses, in his own way, the supreme creative moment when "man became a living soul" (Hurll, Estelle, Kindle Location 646).  Like da Vinci, Michelangelo places the subject in action. This is shown with the use of gestures, God's extended finger toward Adam.

Sources:

Hurll, Estelle M. (Estelle May) (2011-03-30). Michelangelo A Collection Of Fifteen Pictures And A Portrait Of The Master, With Introduction And Interpretation (Kindle Locations 646-647). Kindle Edition.   

Symonds, John Addington (2012-05-12). The Life of Michelangelo Buonarroti. Kindle Edition.

The Last Supper by da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci (April 15, 1452 – May 2, 1519) was an Italian painter, inventor, and illustrator. A Renaissance man, he displayed insight and expertise in several sciences such as botany, anatomy, engineering, and architecture. His widely known for his Mona Lisa, the Vitruvian Man and the Last Supper.  Circa 1495,  Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan commissioned Leonardo da Vinci to complete a painting for the refectory of the Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria della Grazie in Milan, Italy.  The Last Supper  is 4.6 by 8.8 meters (roughly 15 by 29 feet).  Leonardo used tempera gesso over a ground to paint the work.  Tempera gesso involves using white paint mixture consisting of a binder mixed with chalk, gypsum, pigment, and oil painted over wood or a Masonite material.  The mixture dries quickly and the oil adheres the pigment to the wall.  

In the first four books of the Gospel, which consist of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the bible reports that at their final gathering before the crucifixion,  Jesus and the Apostles, enjoyed a supper and he revels he will be betrayed by one of them.  The entire dramatic event becomes one of the main source of Christian faith, the Eucharist or Holy communion, where believers re-enact the last supper as an expression of faith and of obedience to Christ.

Leonardo da Vinci captures the drama and enlightenment of Jesus final gathering with the Last Supper.  Leonardo takes a realistic approach with his subjects: All are drawn slightly oversized compared to real life dimensions.  Jesus, as the main subject, is balanced as the center of the painting.  This is conveyed in the number of disciples to his right and left; and with the windows behind him; and the line of the walls and the table.   Further,  each disciple is drawn in the act of conversing, arguing and discussing with hand gestures and turned heads.  Leonardo's insight into the art of individuals conversing is done beautifully and expressed the drama fully in the Last Supper.

Sources:

King, Ross (2012-10-30). Leonardo and the Last Supper (p. 54). Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. Kindle Edition.

Kirof, Blago (2013-01-31). Leonardo da Vinci Paintings: Annotated (Kindle Locations 40-41).  Kindle Edition.

Da Vinci, Leonardo (2012-02-14). Leonardo Da Vinci's Collection (Illustrated): The Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci (Volume 1 And Volume 2), Thoughts On Art And Life (Kindle Locations 422-423). Kindle Edition.