Dirk Bouts, The Fall of the Damned, 1450.
Dirk Bouts The Fall of the Damned is an earlier rendition from many other paintings that relate to the same subject matter, which is the judgment upon everyone when God meets their final days on earth. Dirk Bouts is a well-known Flemish artist from the Netherlands and his work consist mostly on religious and devotional art. Bouts signature trademarks were his stiffness in characters awkward positions and also Bouts was first to clearly show a vanishing point within his paintings. Due to Bouts reputation of creating stiff, lifeless figures the painting of The Fall of the Damned had a different look to it that did make the painting seem a bit livelier than what he’s used to. The Fall of the Damned is based on the fallen angels being sent down to hell where they will live and suffer for eternity. Bouts version of The Fall of the Damned is already depicting the fallen angels in hell being tortured and bothered by the dark demons that are surrounding them. Because this scene known for being chaotic and wild, Bouts did a great job showing off motion and physical turmoil from the demons and fallen angels that are casted down. If one were to closely examine each facial expression from the demons and angels as well as their bodies, then one could see the suffrage from the angels and the pleasure from the demons.
The painting has dark tones and not enough light, which helps portray some visual imagery of what hell could possibly look like. The artist, Dirk Bouts, is primarily depicting more of a literal, visual form to demonstrate to others (from the church) the possibility of what could happen if one does not do good or follow into the path of righteousness. This is very different from the political influence that’ll occur later on in the years, which will be shown further into the gallery. That’s why this painting The Fall of the Damned fits in perfectly well with the theme of “Immoral Mortality”. To see this painting in person, the painting is located in Paris, France at the Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille.
Caravaggio, Sacrifice of Isaac, 1603.
This painting of Caravaggio Sacrifice of Isaac is a controversial piece that entails ones true devotion to God by stripping away our emotional and physical attachment to the physical world. The story of the Sacrifice of Isaac is a popular story from the Old Testament about a devoted father and worshipper of God named Abraham, who was tending to his daily chores until he heard the voice of God. God spoke onto Abraham, to which God was testing Abraham’s true devotion towards him, and asked Abraham to sacrifice something that is just as sacred and precious to him as God is to him. Of course, Abraham’s son Isaac was of choice for Isaac was his flesh and blood. In the end, since this was just merely a test of devotion, God sent down an angel to tell Abraham to sacrifice his lamb/sheep instead. Originally in the story, Abraham takes his son Isaac (blindfolded) up a mountain, lays him down on a rock so that God could see that Abraham was faithful and then right before he stabs his son in the heart an angel appears before him and orders him to stop.
Caravaggio’s Sacrifice of Isaac is more intense visually than what is depicted in the bible. Caravaggio manages to capture such intense facial expressions of anger, fear, sadness and mercifulness. The chiaroscuro around Isaac’s face creates an very powerful scene of him being scared to death seeing that his father is going to kill him, but because of Isaac’s face being powerful that’s what makes the whole painting look so beautiful. The paleness of his face surrounded by the darkness around him. The father Abraham has a strong face as well, with this look of anger and sadness at the same time. It’s an intense look that very much draws the viewer in emotionally, just like the angel next to Abraham quickly making him stop such an act. Also the sheep has facial expression of mercy for he is the one to be sacrificed instead of his son. Very powerful and passionate emotions taking place in this painting that it definitely makes the whole piece come to life. These emotions could also be the same expressions of what people felt during that time of the Eighty Years War, since everyone had such hostility yet devotion towards their political structure and congregational separation. This is why this painting fits well with the theme of “Immoral Mortality”, because of the separation of emotions being tested by higher power. To see this beautiful piece the Sacrifice of Isaac is located in Uffizi, Florence.
Caravaggio, Salome with the Head of John the Baptist, 1610.
The painting of Salome with the Head of John the Baptist by Caravaggio is a grainy and dark interpretation of political injustice between man and politics. The painting is based off the biblical story of the erotic princess or queen lustfully dancing to the King in order for him to madly seduced by her. Her charm and body worked for the King, granting Salome anything she wants and desires. The only desire Salome wanted was the head of John the Baptist on a silver platter. Such a cold and captivatingly odd request from a beautiful woman, yet Salome this was a powerful demand that insured her to gain dominance towards the royal court and fear amongst the people. This subject matter is very popular amongst artist because of the dark imagery and gruesome depiction of a severed head, yet beautiful at the same time due to the beauty of a seductive woman.
Scholars have pointed out that this painting has been done rather rushed due to the fast and loose brush strokes with added fillers that are pretty noticeable. For example, the journal has stated that the paint between the fingers of the executioner is exposed brown primer of paint that wasn’t painted over to smooth it out. Other than, this painting is a monument piece that lures people out and in at the same time. This piece fits in well with the theme “Immoral Mortality” due to the dark subject matter of the severed head and the underlying message of injustice towards man. To see this monumental piece, the Salome with the Head of John the Baptist by Caravaggio is located at the National Gallery in London, England.
Rubens, The Massacre of Innocents, 1611-12.
The painting Massacre of the Innocents by Peter Paul Rubens is an iconic image that depicts the senses and the emotions from the characters to the viewers. This dramatic scene captures the story from the Old Testament of when the King ordered his soldiers to kill every newborn male in town because it has been foretold that the potential new king will take his place one day. The scene shows the desperation and panic from the people, the violence from the soldiers brutally invading the personal space of others, and the grief and pleas from the loving mothers of their children. Even though there’s heavy emphasis of violence occurring on the scene, the small specs of blood isn’t the gruesome part it’s the pale corpses of the babies that really grabs ones attention. Rubens definitely captured life and lifelessness all in one massive painting. The detail in the fabric gives off this 3D chaotic mess that’s occurring in the scene, while the fast brush strokes from the faces also help to elude motion into the painting.
The reason why this painting fits well with this theme “Immoral Mortality” is because this painting The Massacre of the Innocents was considered to be a political and social protest against the war that was occurring in the Netherlands. Both religion and politics were seen as an equalizer for hope within their countries and within themselves, yet both parties were also seen as weapons of manipulation against the common people in order to gain power overall. This big monument painting can be found at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto, Canada. Fun fact: this painting was recently purchased at an auction for $76.7 million dollars.
Rubens, The Fall of the Damned, 1620.
Peter Paul Rubens created a monumental, yet controversial piece titled “The Fall of the Damned” in Belgium in 1620. The “Fall of the Damned” is an oil painting depicting Gods final judgment of the guilty as they fall into the abyss of damnation. Rubens sketch of the artwork was first created with red and white chalk with a grey wash. Later on, Rubens painted on top of the drawing with oils to create a heavy and dramatic effect such as the chiaroscuro that emphasizes the human bodies being whirled down into hell. Due to the massive size of this piece (286 x 224 cm), one must stand back to clearly see the whole story of the image and as one approaches the piece then the individual will get to see the heavy brush stokes throughout the composition.
Rubens “The Fall of the Damned” is a massive religious piece with controversial imagery of nudity, sexual exploitation and biblical references that creates a relationship with the viewer such as either being tasteful or not. This painting definitely falls into this theme of “Immoral Mortality” because of the powerful depiction of demonstrating the fate of mankind (especially since this painting being a monumental piece). If one were to travel to see this painting in person, “The Fall of the Damned” is currently located in Munich, Germany. I love this piece a lot because of the imagery, the story and the work put into such a monumental piece during the Baroque era of art.
Jacob Jordaens, Le Jugement Dernier, 1654.
The painting entitled Le Jugement Dernier or in English The Last Judgment is painted by a well-known Flemish artist named Jacob Jordaens. The story behind Le Jugement Dernier is the story from the New Testament in the bible of the Book of Revelations. A fascinating and gruesome tale of what’s going to happen to mankind and all creatures here on earth once God ejects his wrath and judgment towards all. This quote from the Book of Revelations states, “The coming of the Son of man will be like lightning striking in the east and flashing far into the west. Wherever the corpse is, that is where the vultures will gather. Immediately after the distress of those days the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the sky and the powers of heaven will be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of man will appear in heaven; then, too, all the peoples of the earth will beat their breasts; and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet to gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. G38” The painting is already massive in size and depicts quite well what was quote about Son of man to judge and overthrow power amongst everyone. The focal point starts out at the top with God/Son of God being surrounded by his angels and followers up in the heavens. Then the eyes move down to what appears to be a chaotic mess of people falling from the sky and being pushed down from the archangels. The people are falling into the darkness of hell, they are all stripped naked and being whirled into the depths of torture and pain.
This painting fits well into the theme “Immoral Mortality” because Jacob Jordaens was actually an apprentice/assistant for Rubens and right after Rubens death, Jordaens reputation became so well known that he was now being commissioned from the Church and Court to create paintings of such religious and political elements. If one were to visit this painting, the Le Jugement Dernier is currently residing at the Musée du Louvre in Paris, France.
Pieter Claesz, Vanitas, 1630.
The reason why I have chosen and placed Pieter Claesz Vanitas last in the exhibit is because of the overall message and answer to this exhibition. Whether or not these artist, politicians, clergymen or the audience believed in the supernatural or in the metaphysical world, in the end everyone will meet their fate and destination when it comes to their mortality. These paintings all-together embark the human characteristics of suffrage, vengeance, mercifulness, sadness and despair that are all created here from the bottom of the classes to the top. Power is a desired force that everyone craves and wants, especially politicians from any era and even a man in cloak (a servitude of God and man). Church and state are said to be too complete opposites that should never mix, yet it’s these two that work together to force fear and regulations upon others.
Vanitas is a still life painting of a skull, a book, quill and ink, and an empty wine glass. The skull represents life and death of man; for we are all purposeful in life yet mean absolutely nothing at the same time. The book underneath the skull brings about the same logic of “what’s the meaning or purpose in life?” because we are evolving and depicting our thoughts to be recorded yet our unanswered question of, what does our knowledge mean in the end of time? The quill and ink is what marks our presence in life, but that’s merely it for our existence in general. The empty wine glass demonstrates our thirst for the pleasures in life, because life is to be enjoyed rather than feared. Fear is imposed upon everyone because of the churches belief of God judging everyone everyday and the only true meaning of life is to serve God. Once the individual has served God in the physical world, then they will be greatly rewarded in the metaphysical world with God and the others.
This still-life painting is beautiful, powerful and realistic. The eyes are drawn directly to the center where the skull is at and then the eyes spiral its way around the skulls surroundings. Vanitas fits in and ties the true meaning behind the political and religious influences that of “Immoral Mortality” because of the concept and meaning behind each individual object depicted. To see this piece in person, Vanitas is currently located at The Hague in the Netherlands. I hope this exhibition makes people question the morals behind the power that churches and states hold against an individual as well as questioning one’s own morals in life.