The above is entitled "Judith and Holophernes", one of my favourites by Caravaggio. Painted in 1599, I think the work is striking, dramatic and beautifully done. The detail on the figures is incredible and it simply leaves me in awe. The use of light and dark creates a very powerful painting.
Interestingly I was having a conversation with my partner earlier about where the line between illustration and fine art can be drawn. If you take the above painting, it illustrates a biblical story, but its appearance immediately makes me think of it as fine art. So what is it - both? There are many other examples of this blurring the line, such as pretty much every classical painter as they illustrated scenes from mythology as well as the bible.
I wish to say here again that one the reasons I love pencil
is that I feel I can achieve a much more basic, “poor man’s” version of
renaissance art. As a good example, in my level 0 year I drew a dicture for the summer show that was derivative of this painting; although in my work it is an illustration intended for The Three Billy Goats Gruff.
No comments:
Post a Comment