Counter-Reformation
The Counter-Reformation was the period of resurgence in religion. The Catholic Church reformed in response to the Protestant movements in 1500. The Protestants demanded reforms in the Catholic Church. Its dreams were to make reforms that included clarifying the Catholic teaching, correcting abused, and altering the strategies for winning again people to Catholicism.
Bernini's Colonnade in front of Saint Peter Basilica
Bernini's Colonnade in front of Saint Peter Basilica shifted the focal point of Saint Peter's tomb by placing semi-circular colonnades that symbolized the stretched arm of the Church in the direction of the world. Gian Lorenzo Bernini designed the colonnade in front of Saint Peter Basilica.
Question Two
The true lifestyles naturalism in Caravaggio's Calling of Saint Matthew is so unique and real. The boldness and physical presence of the art show naturalism. He also depicted naturalism through the life-like approach in his work. His work is emotional rather than rational.
When Jesus called Matthew, he stood and called him out. The room is empty and badly lit to symbolize the state of the office where duties were collected. The man sitting in the middle of five men surrounding the table could be Saint Matthew. The other men symbolize the tax collectors. The costumes of two distinct groups of men symbolize contraposition, and Jesus is in the middle symbolizes that Jesus is a link between Catholics and non-Catholics. The absence of footwear symbolized poverty toward the group that converted to Catholicism.
It is evident in the painting that Caravaggio was ambiguous about the identity of Matthew. Although one could guess where Matthew is, it is not clear from the picture which man is him.
Question Three
Gian Lorenzo Bernini designed the Ecstasy of Saint Teresa. It is set in an elevated position in the Cornaro Chapel of the church of Saint Maria Della Vittoria. The patron of the Ecstasy of Saint Teresa is Federico Cornaro, who financed the Cornaro Chapel.
Question Four
Monticello is located in Albemarle County in Virginia, Charlottesville state. It was designed and redesigned for four decades by Tomas Jefferson. Jefferson admired Andrea Palladio's Renaissance models. He designed Monticello after his Italian models. The Frontier Mountain top and Renaissance villa are the evidence of Italian architect.
Question Five
The Enlightenment is the period between the seventeenth and eighteenth century characterized by revolutions in politics, science, philosophy, and science. The revolutions swept away medieval approaches to life.
Enlightenment reverted visual art to the neo-classical style. Artists strived towards realism and rationalism. The visual arts looked more realistic than before.
Neoclassical movement is the Western movements in the visual and decorative arts, literature, and theater. Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece influenced the art in this period.
Question Six
The Raft of the Medusa is an oil painting done 1818 by a French Romantic painter Theodore Gericault. The painting is associated with the Romanticism movement. The candid presentation and bold style of painting make it a living picture. Jean Charles signals symbolize the distress of the sailors who remained aboard the raft.
Question Seven
Thomas Coe painted the Oxbow, which depicts Romantic panorama of Connecticut River Valley in 1836. The painting romanticized Connecticut River Valley by showing how it appeared after a thunderstorm. The painting is interpreted as a conflict between civilization and wilderness. The right side of the painting speaks the ideology of manifest destiny. The Oxbow painting shows the benefits of Manifest Destiny.
Question Eight
Ingres' La Grande Odalisque presents romantic painting which reflects the strive for freedom from artistic and social rules. The world of Ingres portrays confusing conflict and relationship of romantic and neoclassical tradition. The nude pose originates from Titian while the contours sculptures are classical. The subject is a slave girl representing the exotic idea of romanticism.
