MET - Renaissance and Baroque Art

Monica Vazquez

HUA 101.1301

Professor Harmon

October 25, 2013

Renaissance- Baroque Galleries



     Mars and Venus United by Love created by renaissance artist Paolo Veronese is displayed today in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This Italian Renaissance painting was completed in the 1570’s and the medium used is oil on canvas. The painting of Mars and Venus United by Love is 81 inches long by 63 inches wide. During the renaissance you begin to see warmer colors added to the paintings, the background begins to appear as if there was space, and Venus has some facial expression unlike the other serious artworks previously done. Mars and Venus United by Love appear to be more realistic and it focuses on mythology instead of holy images from bible.  Venus appears to have a small smile on her face; it looks like she is happy to be with her lover and cupid.  Things appear to be bigger in the foreground then they are in the background. The sky’s horizon point can be seen on the left side of the painting, making it look more realistic than most of the previous artworks that did not capture space.

 



     The painting of Samson Captured by the Philistines was an art piece done by an artist of the baroque period, Giovanni Francesco Barbieri who was known as Guercino. The art piece of Samson Captured by the Philistines dates back 1619, Guercino’s medium was also oil on canvas. Art in the baroque period is asymmetrical, very dramatic and has contrast in light and dark. All of these features are also found in Samson Captured by the Philistines, most of the light is focused on Samson’s back. Although we cannot see Samson’s face, as his back is to us in the center of the painting his emotions are clear to us as we see him try to fight off the Philistines. Delilah also has some light focused on her but as we reach the top right side of the painting, the Philistines are darken making the top much darker, taking the in the contrasting dark part of the painting. The top left side of the painting has dark clouds, suggesting a dramatic intense atmosphere, one in which we can see the deceit and betrayal Delilah has brought on to him.