Artwork



Artwork

If I had been an artist of previous periods, my paintings would contain landscape art. My painting would contain abstracted view of clouds as the might look from above, maybe through an airplane window. I would make the Horizon line about one quarter of the way from the top of the painting. Above the Horizon the sky fades from blue at the top down to pink right on the horizon. Bellow the horizon would be hundreds of white ovals, some of them almost rectangular, that get smaller and smaller, and more faint as they get closer to the horizon, giving the effect of a vast distance. The negative space around the clouds almost form a grid, would be almost looking like an endless patio or cobblestone parking lot.

Here I would like to contrasts the painting of four different artists of various time periods. The late fifteenth and early sixteenth century saw the birth of two artist that were so drastically different in styles, they are still looked at in awe over 300 years later. Albrecht Durer and Matthias Grunewald each had their own style and influence in the way they completed their art. Durer remained essentially German; the influence of the art of Italy and the Netherlands was accompanying. Grunewald rejected Renaissance style and followed the path of traditional northern religious themes. Both men show remarkable examples using color, light, and true naturalism to their art. (Georgia 1976)

Among Durer's portfolio include such works as "The Fall of Man", which depicts Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden committing the first sin, the "Prodigal Son", showing natural emotion and simplicity, the "Adoration of the Magi" which bears comparison with the masterpieces of Italy and the Netherlands. Durer's own woodcuts have a quality entirely their own. "The Apocalypse" is notable by its expressiveness for the gruesome way it portrays demons. The most striking of the series are the "Four Riders", the "Angels of the Euphrates", and the "Battle of the Angels with the Dragon". Durer brought Wood and copperplate engraving to great perfection. (Arnason, 1986)

In "The Festival of the Rosary", painted in Venice along with "Christ on the Cross" and "Adam and Eve", his influence from Italian colorists can be seen. During this time, he had made the acquaintance with Giovanni Bellini and the influence can be remarkably seen in his work. In 1511 Durer produced the "Virgin with the Pear", one of the finest of his Madonna's. In the years 1513-14 he executed three great copperplate engravings: these may, perhaps, be looked upon as ideal representations of a fearless knight, an unsatisfied searcher for knowledge, and a saint happy in God and are called: "The Knight with Death and the Devil"; "Melancholia"; "Saint Jerome in His Study". Durer worked also on the "Triumph of Maximillian", and produced the large "Triumphal Car", for the emperor. Admirable sketches for "St. Jerome with the Skull" give proof of the artist's thoroughness during his stay in the Netherlands. The striking head of the saint ...