Tag: theMet
-
Lamb of God
Agnus Dei (c.1635) Francisco de Zurbarán. “Lamb of God” In a museum, among many other obviously devotional pieces, this one is easy to overlook or think that it might be out of place. But if you stop and reflect on it for a minute, it becomes extremely powerful. The innocent and helpless lamb, prepared for…
-
Woman Playing a Guitar
Woman Playing a Guitar (1618) Simon Vouet. This was painted while Simon was in Rome and exploring Caravaggism. The dramatic lighting, darkcolor palette and extreme naturalism are traits of the followers of Caravaggio immediately after his death in 1610. Who is the woman playing the guitar? Perhaps Artemisia Gentileschi or Vouet’s wife Virginia da Vezzo?…
-
Supper at Emmaus
The Supper at Emmaus (c.1622) Velázquez. Velázquez was in his early 20s when he painted his interpretation of two men encountering the risen Christ. The overall tone of the painting is much more restrained when compared with Caravaggio’s version of the same subject. The gesturing man has his back completed turned away from us; we…
-
Penitent Magdalen
The Penitent Magdalen (c.1640) Georges de La Tour. La Tour’s Penitent Magdalen offers a quieter, more meditative vision of repentance. Stripped of excess, the scene centers on contemplation, marked by familiar symbols: the mirror of vanity, the skull of mortality, and abandoned jewelry – pleasure exchanged for piety. The Met notes this is one of…
-
Caravaggio Nativity Scenes
During Christmas week, we take a look at several of Caravaggio’s depictions of the Holy Family. Note: The last slide is not universally accepted as autograph by all Caravaggio scholars. The Adoration of the Shepherds (1609) was originally displayed in the Messina church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Padri Cappuccini (Our Lady of the…