Genre Analysis The Baroque and Rococo Periods Essay

The following is a comparative analysis of Caravaggio’s The Musicians from the Italian Baroque period, and Watteau’s Mezzetin from the Rococo Period. Although both paintings depict a scene or event from everyday life, or a genre scene, the latter was painted more recently during the modern era and it differs immensely. The major differences become evident in the style of the painters as well as their personal representations of the subject matter. The works illustrate the evolvement of a certain genre in Western painting from Renaissance through the modern era. This transformation exemplifies how a similar subject matter can be represented in an entirely new and innovative way. Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio painted the genre scene†¦show more content†¦The central figure is dressed in primary red, contrasting the greenish colors around him. He is tuning a lute, and represents Caravaggio’s companion Mario Minniti. Beside him the figure is facing the vi ewer, he is a self-portrait of the artist, holding a horn. His direct eye contact helps bring the viewer into the painting. The third figure has his back to us, studying music. The music shows that the figures are playing madrigals celebrating love. However, the central figure’s eyes are moist, representing the sorrow of love rather than the pleasures. Caravaggio uses a dark neutral background, which helps keep the viewer’s focus on the subject matter. The light is coming from the left, and he uses chiaroscuro to help create a dramatic atmosphere and strong contrasts in light and dark. The colors on the figures are well blended, and smoothly applied. The composition is ambitious and complex. The figures don’t seem to relate to one another or the picture space and it is almost clumsily done. The perspective of the music and violin seems to be moving out of the picture plane. The representation of an additional instrument involves the viewer, as if one would be th e one to join the musicians. Caravaggio departs from traditional representations, and shows the humanity of scenes. His use of tenebrism helps emphasize the importance of the figures. CaravaggioShow MoreRelatedEssay Baroque Art in Europe and North America1408 Words   |  6 Pages Baroque Art in Europe and North America nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Throughout this research paper the topic is going to be along the lines of the Baroque Art in Europe and North America, which comes from chapter nineteen of our Art History book. The main purpose is to review major ideas and principles in this chapter by writing an analysis of certain points that were highlighted. For example, certain techniques that were used to define the Baroque Art, major sculptures, architectures, andRead MoreEssay about Music Styles in the Renaissance Era940 Words   |  4 PagesRenaissance era or rebirth ear brought a new attitude towards music. It started in Europe, Italy to be exact, from the fourteen to the sixteen century. Italians wanted to bring â€Å"the rebirth of their past† (Kerman, p.65).This period brought the rebirth of humanism and acceptance of diversity of cultures. Music was made to be played in the church during prayer times. When church lost power and control, music moved to the courts. Artists and musicians had more freedom and individualism to create musicRead MoreEssay about French Baroque 1600c.e.-1750c.e.957 Words   |  4 Pages French Baroque 1600-1750 Europe in the 1600s was at the end of Counter Reformation, and as the political and cultural shifts took place, we begin to see art, particularly in France, influenced more and more, by the ruling monarchy. The transition from Mannerism into Baroque is not clear, but eventually the arts started to adopt a new look. And feel. Paintings started to become more exuberant, dynamic and ornamented. The scale of work produced during this time increased dramatically. Where MannerismRead MoreAn Overview of Postmodernism Essay2180 Words   |  9 Pagesenough information to identify a clear period or any particular feature. Only by comparing the two definitions, a very small part of the available explanations on the subject, and at the same time reading them together one can identify one of the main components of the movement: diversity in all its aspects. The difference in these definitions is not just a simple coincidence and should be taken as a figure of speech for the description of the en tire period. During this time critics and writers,