CHRISTIAN PAINTINGS

Christian Paintings

Christian Paintings

1. “Saint Jerome” by Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528)

Fruitful discordance marks the character and career of Albrecht Dürer. In contrast to the 'topographical inventories' executed during his apprenticeship, the watercolour landscape drawings he made on his way northward through the Alps subsume details to an overall conception, and modulate the colour of individual objects to accord with atmospheric and light conditions. On the reverse is a swiftly painted comet - perhaps a heavenly portent of the Last Judgement, whose trumpets Jerome is said to have heard in the wilderness. (Lubbock, 2006)

2. “The Beheading of Saint John” by Pierre-Cécile Puvis De Chavannes (1824-1898)

In the very years when Monet and Renoir were seeking to capture in paint fugitive glimpses of modern life, an engineer-manqué from Lyon was working to virtually opposite ends. Son of a mining engineer, Puvis fell seriously ill a few days before his entrance examination to the Ecole Polytechnique in Paris. After two years' rest he went to Italy, and on his return decided to abandon technology and become a painter. He opened his own studio in Paris, and in 1861, when he was 37, he won a medal at his third Salon exhibition for allegories of Peace and War, which were bought by the state. (Lubbock, 2006)

3. “The Virgin and Saint John” by Martin Van Heemskerck (1498-1574)

Martin Van Heemskerck was born in the Heemskerck (a Dutch village) where takes his name from. Martin Van Heemskerck worked in the birthplace but he also lived in Italy from 1532 to 1536. He painted“The Virgin and Saint John” after his arrival from Italy. (Harr, 2005)

4. “The Coronation of the Virgin with Adoring Saints” by Jacopo Di Cione ((1362-1400)

The subject of the painting was the major stage of one of the most elaborate and largest paintings ordered in the 14th century in Florence. A complex structure of this kind was the work of many hands. While the painting is in the style of Jacopo di Cione, the youngest of four Florentine artist-brothers, the overall design was the responsibility of his collaborator, Niccolò di Pietro Gerini. A third master may have been charged with the gilding and its elaborate decoration. So closely and efficiently did the three masters and their assistants work together that from the initial design to the final installation took little longer than a year. (Paul, 2009)

5. “Christ Taking Leave Of His Mother” by Albrecht Altdorfer (1480-1538)

Christ says goodbye to his mother in Bethany, before going back to Jerusalem to depart this life on the cross. The painter Altdorfer is a member of a small group of German artists who gave great importance to landscape. The subject of Christ is taking leave of his mother is probably more common in prints than in painted figure. (Brown, 2008)

6. “Christ Washing His Disciples' Feet” by Jacopo Tintoretto (1518-1594)

“Christ Washing His Disciples' Feet” was painted for the chapel of the Holy Sacrament in Venice. The picture is remarkably dark even for an sunset ...