Tag: NorthItalianBaroque
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When Mary Started Rising: The Assumption in Baroque Art
Today the Catholic Church celebrates the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. One of the fascinating things about the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is that it became one of the most important subjects in Catholic art despite not being described in the Bible. The New Testament never recounts Mary’s final moments on earth or her…
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St. Sebastian
St. Sebastian (c.1615) Gudi Reni. Here we see one of Reni’s favorite subjects, St. Sebastian. It is thought that Cardinal Del Monte commissioned this painting. The extremely youthful saint is looking up to God knowingly, no hint of fear in his eyes despite the onslaught of arrows. This is just one of many Reni’s at…
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Saint John the Baptist
Guercino, (c.1645) Saint John the BaptistUnlike many Baroque depictions of Saint John the Baptist that emphasize the fiery prophet of the wilderness, Guercino presents a figure of striking quietness and introspection. The young saint lowers his gaze to the scroll inscribed Ecce Agnus Dei (“Behold the Lamb of God”), meditating on the very message he…
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Penitent Magdalene
Penitent Magdalene (c. 1602) – Domenico TintorettoCreated by Domenico Tintoretto, the talented son of the renowned Venetian master Jacopo Tintoretto, the work presents a moving and deeply human interpretation of Mary Magdalene in penitence. Mary is shown alone in a cave, withdrawn from the distractions of the world and immersed in prayer, reflection, and repentance.…
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St. Stephen
The Stoning of St. Stephen (c.1603) Annibale Caracci. December 26th is the Feast Day of St. Stephen. St. Stephen is recognized as the protomartyr (first martyr) of Christianity. He was stoned to death outside of the walls of Jerusalem after provoking a crowd. Caracci’s depiction shows what Stephen cried out , “Behold, I see the…
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St. Cecilia
St. Cecilia (1606), Guido Reni. November 22nd is the feast day St. Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr.According to early Church tradition, St. Cecilia was born to wealthy pagan parents in Rome in the 3rd century. She dedicated her life to Christ and to serving the poor, fully aware that her faith could cost her her life.…
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Dormition of the Virgin
Dormition of the Virgin (c1612) Carlo Saraceni. After the Carmelites rejected Caravaggio’s intensely realistic take on the Dormition of the Virgin, Saraceni was commissioned to create a new version. His interpretation draws on Northern Italian influences, with a Renaissance-inspired color palette and carefully arranged figures. Yet the work remains grounded in naturalism and in its…
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The Vocation of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga
The Vocation of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga (c.1650) Guercino. This beautiful painting captures young Aloysius Gonzaga turned away from wealth and privilege to follow his calling to serve God. Guercino’s use of light and emotion brings to life the saint’s purity and devotion. You can see the angel crowning Aloysius with a wreath crown while his…
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Immaculate Conception
“Immaculate Conception” (1627) Guido Reni. The gallery label tells us that the Spanish Ambassador in Rome commissioned Reni to paint this for the Infanta of Spain (Infanta refers to the daughter of the king). Eventually the painting was hung in the cathedral of Seville and was extremely influential to Spanish painters, especially Murillo. We highlighted…