Custom essays on Integrated Arts

The Pieta is one of the most common themes that repeat in the religious art of the late-medieval period. It is the composition where the dead Jesus Christ is supported by his mother who is distraught with grief. The Pieta by Michelangelo and the Avignon Pieta are two most magnificent examples. Moreover, they are “perhaps the greatest masterpiece produced inFrancein the 15th century” (Lucie-Smith, p. 26). The Pieta by Michelangelo is located in theVatican Cityin St. Peter’s Basilica. It differentiates from the earlier statues as the body of Christ is different. As opposed to most pietas where the sorrowing Mary is usually old, Michelangelo’s Virgin is young and beautiful. There are two reasons to that: her external beauty is the reflection of her internal purity and innocence. Besides, as God is the source of the earth beauty, she is one of the closest persons to Him. Moreover, there is one more thing that distinguishes this Pieta. It is the only one Michelangelo left his signature on. As opposed to Michelangelo’s Pieta which is a sculpture, the Avignon Pieta is a picture. Its origin is unknown. The Christ’s body’s curved back form is really original and the motionless figures around him differentiate from Netherlandian and Italian depictions. Some historians referred this painting to a Portuguese or a Catalan master; however later it was attributed to Quarton. The landscape depicted on the picture is bare; the horizon is broken by theJerusalembuildings. There is no sky, but a golden background with borders and inscriptions. The painting is also known as the Villeneuve Pieta as it came from Villeneuve-lès-Avignon.

“The Sower” by Jean Francois Millet was the painter’s first major masterpiece that was exhibited in 1850. The painting is usually associated with the Social realist movement. It depicts a peasant man who sows his crop. The sun shines very brightly in the top half of the painting over the horizon. It means that the man got up very early to accomplish his daily duty. The painting is called a realistic piece of work due to its subject-matter and due to the realistic manner in which the painting is drawn. Millet uses dark and muddy earth colors. Nor does he ignore the character of the sower, neither does he idealize him. On the contrary, the sower is depicted as realistically as possible: his clothing is poor, simple and practical. The character of the peasant may be interpreted as a sewer of social justice. He is a representative of the lower class who tries to defend his rights, who fights for social mobility. The rising sun is the symbol of changes brought by the Social realism. “The Death of Sardanapalus” by Eugene Delacroix painted in 1827 is completely different from “The Sower”. This is a passionate and emotional painting that appears to be a riot of excess, eroticism and sadism. It is considered to be “one of the most romantic paintings of the Romantic epoch” (Mystudious.com).

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The painting of the death of the Assyrian king Sardanapalus is very emotional due to the beautiful bright colors, exotic costumes and tragic events. This excessiveness is one of the most prominent features of Romanticism. This painting greatly contributes to the whole stock of masterpieces of the romantic imagery.

Henry Matisse’s “Dance” (1909) and Edward Munch’s “The Dance of Life” (1900) both refer to fauvism – a grouping of modern artists of the 20^th century. Their works represented bright and strong colors that were over the realistic values of impressionism. “Dance” by Matisse is commonly recognized as “a key point of (Matisse’s) career and in the development of modern painting” (Clement, p. 114). The painting represents the composition of dancing figures. The painter used pale colors; the figures are not detailed much. There is another version of this painting that was created a year later in 1910. This time the figures were depicted in strong red with more detailed depiction. The composition is set against deep blue sky and green field. The color palette is a classic Fauvist one: pale and deep colors are opposed to each other. The painting reflects the ideas of hedonism and emotional liberation. The painting “The Dance of Life” by Edward Munch shares some common ideas with “The Dance” by Matisse. People depicted on it are engaged in an energetic dance. The mood of sexuality casted over by the composition is intensified by the phallic reflection of the moon in the river. The use of color in this painting is also classic Fauvist: three women are depicted in bright dresses (white, black and red) and these bright spots are opposed to the pale background.

The manifesto of futurists was published by Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, an Italian poet and editor. His manifesto was part of an article that was entitled “The Founding and Manifesto of Futurism”. This article was published theParisnewspaper Le Figaro on February 20, 1909. The manifest exalts dynamism, speed and simultaneity of modern life. The word “futurism” was created by Marinetti. It was the reflection of his goal: to discard the art of the past and to celebrate originality, change, and innovation in society and culture: “We stand on the last promontory of the centuries! Why should we look back, when what we want is to break down the mysterious doors of the Impossible? Time and Space died yesterday. We already live in the absolute, because we have created eternal, omnipresent speed” (Encyclopedia Britannica). The manifesto of Futurism glorified such things as the innovation of the automobile, the beauty of its movement, power and speed. Marinetti praised conflict and violence. In his manifesto he called for the changing of traditional values and the absolute destruction of such cultural institutions as libraries, museums and many others. The manifesto distinguishes itself by the aggressive tone and bombastic rhetoric. And these features are not occasional as the intention of the manifesto’s writer was to arouse controversy in society and to inspire public anger. Futurists wanted to destroy all the evidences of the Italian illustrious past as it was too slow and unacceptable for them: “Up to now literature has exalted a pensive immobility, ecstasy, and sleep. We intend to exalt aggressive action, a feverish insomnia, the racer’s stride, a mortal leap, the punch and the slap” (Encyclopedia Britannica). They preferred to turn their eyes to the future and change it the way the liked.

Works cited

Clement, R. T. (1996). Four French Symbolists.Greenwood Press.

Delacroix, E. The Death of Sardanapalus. Mystudious.com.

Works cited
Clement, R. T. (1996). Four French Symbolists. Greenwood Press.
Delacroix, E. The Death of Sardanapalus. Mystudious.com.