A paint is an amalgamation of thoughts, talent, and emotions which are meant to communicate concealed messages and ideas. Two paintings stand out in this case, Carpaccio's "The Lion of Saint Mark" and Rembrandt's "Titus at His Desk."
“The Lion of Saint Mark”
“The Lion of Saint Mark” is a painting drawn during the Renaissance period, which marked the birth of the modernity age. The religious painting is of a winged lion holding a Bible with a background of the City of Venice (Carpaccio). The winged lion is symbolic of St. Mark, the evangelist who was the patron of Venice. The lion has its paws on land and sea depicting the power of Venice over the territory. Vittore Carpaccio who was born in Venice drew the painting in 1516 at a time when Leonardo Da Vinci painted the most famous art in the world, the Mona Lisa. These Renaissance artists played a big role in describing ancient times through their unique paintings. Carpaccio has other popular religious paintings including “The Stoning of St Stephen” and “Saint John the Baptist” among others (Charles, Par 12).
“Titus at His Desk”
Rembrandt drew “Titus at His Desk” in 1655 during the baroque period when art was dramatized in one way or another. The painting is of a young boy who sits at his desk contemplating what to draw and write. The close-up art illustrates the young boy as an artist since he holds a pen stand and an inkwell (Van Rijn). The young boy in the painting is Rembrandt’s son, Titus van Rijn who became the focal point of Rembrandt's paintings. The baroque style, which started in Rome, received support from the Catholic Church hence spreading fast across Europe. William Blake's "The Garden of Love" is one of the most famous paintings during the Baroque period. Rembrandt was universally known for his love for portrait paintings and especially self-portrait paintings. "Titus at His Desk” was the first in the series of Rembrandt’s painting of his son’s portraits ("Late Rembrandt - Titus at His Desk, 1655", Par 3).
Similarities
“The Lion of Saint Mark” and “Titus at His desk share a few similarities. Both paintings share the same materials used, which include oil paint and canvas. The two artists employ photorealism in drawing the two paintings. Carpaccio perfectly reproduces the image of the lion in the City of Venice and captures all the details in his painting. Rembrandt, on the other hand, draws the photographic portrait and includes even the simplest of details in his art.
Differences
The significant difference between these two paintings is the period when the arts were drawn. "The Lion of Saint Mark" is a renaissance painting while “Titus at His Desk” is a baroque painting. Carpaccio’s paint is a religious painting based on the Bible relating to Saint Mark the evangelist and other Biblical books like Revelation (Facchini, Par 5). “Titus at His Desk” is a portrait painting that focuses on Titus and is not symbolic. The winged lion has been modified to appear as a symbol on international flags and statues, especially in Venice. "Titus at His Desk" has no contemporary modifications to the original design found in art galleries is the only that exists. While Rembrandt's painting is Dutch-based, Carpaccio's picture is of Italian origin and in particular the Venetian Republic.
Conclusion
The two paintings are a true testimony of old is gold. There is much to learn from paintings that dates back to the 15th and 16th century. The artwork helps us learn more about the ancient times through relating to the paintings and the painters also. The Renaissance period is the bedrock of modern art, which sets in motion the launch of the baroque generation. The differences are painting, and the artwork is a diverse field, which guarantees its growth. The fascinating fact is that the older the paintings become, the more relevant they become.
Works Cited
Carpaccio, Vittore. The Lion of Saint Mark. Doge's Palace, Venice, 1516.
Charles, V. (2007). Renaissance art. [New York]: Park stone International, pp.50-112.
Facchini, Stefano. "The Lion of Saint Mark in Venice: Symbol of Magnificence and Power." Arte2000, 2018, https://www.arte2000.it/en/blog-en/the-lion-of-saint-mark-in-venice-symbol-of-magnificence-and-power/. Accessed 6 Dec 2018.
"Late Rembrandt - Titus at His Desk, 1655". KPN Late Rembrandt, 2018, http://kpnrijksmuseum.com/titus. Accessed 6 Dec 2018.
Van Rijn, Rembrandt. Titus at His Desk. Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam, 1655.
