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Western Art and Christianity
During the past millennium, Western art has been heavily influenced by Christianity. Art is an extension of the many complex thoughts and images that swim within an artist's mind. Because many Western artists have traditionally been raised in a Christian environment, it is difficult for their religious beliefs to be fully separated from their artwork, and oftentimes it is embraced in the works, or a patron has requested it be the specific subject matter. Although this heavy Christian influence would see a swift departure during the Renaissance, it would remain engrained in Western culture until the present day.
The Reformation heralded a swift separation between Christians in Europe, as Roman Catholics and Protestants divided roughly along a North to South split. Protestants seemed to dominate the North while the South remained dominated by Catholic countries. While much of the art in Protestant countries retained a secular subject matter...
Notably, Peter Brueghel the Elder's The Hunters in the Snow, created in 1565, exemplifies many of the emotions and stylistic choices of the era. Although his patron, Niclaes Jonghelinck, was a devout Protestant, the work seems to pine for simpler times prior to this religious upheaval. The work screams of Protestant influence, but depicts a somewhat depressing scene. Several hunters have returned from an unsuccessful hunting trip, in the snow, and there is merely a tiny, malnourished, dead fox to show as a reward. The painting's mood is enhanced with a grey toned sky, and this work has all the elements of turmoil present within the Reformation.
An even more religiously influenced work, most specifically due to the subject matter, Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper, depicts the Last Supper of Jesus Christ, on the evening he announces that one of his apostles will betray him. The work was…
(Kleiner, 2010, pg. 360) While Giotto's Christ Entering Jerusalem, is a depiction of Christ entering the Jerusalem. In this situation, he is trying to instill a sense of history and righteousness by showing Christ entering one of the holiest cities in Christianity. At the same time, he is embracing the same kind of basic painting style that was most commonly used during the time. This is important, because it shows
Response 2 It is true that African art seems to show greater respect for cultural tradition than Western art. In the West, if someone wants to say that they are not an artist, often they say 'I'm not creative.' Innovation rather than replication is valued. But in Africa, if someone was frustrated with a work of art they were attempting to create, the African would likely be upset at the work's
French Romantic painter, Eugene Delacroix, is well-known from this period. Delacroix often took his subjects from literature but added much more by using color to create an effect of pure energy and emotion that he compared to music. He also showed that paintings can be done about present-day historical events, not just those in the past (Wood, 217). He was at home with styles such as pen, watercolor, pastel, and
Western Humanities The Prevalence of Homosexuality in Ancient Greek Society and Mythology In any study of Western Culture, there are certain elements which must be addressed to fully understand the development of said culture over time. Among the early cultures that have had a significant impact on this development is that of Ancient Greece. Western philosophy, science, and art are all infused with ideas and innovations which began in Greek culture. In
Decius had come to the throne at a particularly crucial time. Rome had just celebrated its one thousandth year of rule in 247, but the Goths had attacked Rome in 248. Decius had forced the Goths out of the Danube provinces and in return had been hailed emperor by his troops (he would die fighting the Goths in June 251). In the midst of this crisis, Decius appealed to
Western Civilization From Prehistory to the Renaissance Early Civilizations What do historians mean by "pre-history?" What was life like for early humans during these years? There are many things that we as citizens of the modern world take for granted. First among these is probably the enormous amount of recorded information that we have at our fingertips. Everything from our purchases, to our places of employment, to the times and places of our births