Caravaggio’s Religious Imagery Essay Example for Free

Caravaggio’s Religious Imagery Essay The topic to be examined involves the iconological study of selected religious works by Italian artist Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. The term iconological refers to the study of visual imagery and its symbolism and interpretation, especially in social or political terms. The primary purpose of this research paper is to study the symbolism of Caravaggio’s paintings and their impact on society in a historical sense through present day. A secondary purpose is to determine the extent to which, if any, that his art has influenced politics and religion dating back to the late sixteenth century. There are three facets of the research problem: (1) the impact of the new Baroque style of painting that Caravaggio defined; (2) the influence that his religious works had on the church, politics, and society; and (3) the iconological study of Caravaggio. The study is significant for two reasons. First, since art and culture have major influence on society and history, it is important to recognize Caravaggio for his role in averting the threat of Protestantism by replacing the ruling Mannerism period of European painting with his radical naturalistic approach to chiaroscuro. The term chiaroscuro refers to a painting technique that involves an intricate use of shadow and light. Second, the study will address the implications for art and religion in society in relation to the issue of barriers and obstacles that have been faced and whether they have been truly overcome. Hypotheses Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio profoundly changed the art world, bringing about definitiveness to Baroque and eliminating Mannerism. Caravaggio’s authentic religious works that filled the Counter-Reformation Church helped to form specific religions based on imagery. The symbolism and interpretation of Caravaggio’s religious pieces was that they were radically natural, combining theatre and drama with close physical observations. In proving the above hypotheses to be true through utilization of the following methodology, the impact of Caravaggio on religion and society will be obvious. It is also necessary to take other scholars who have come before him into consideration in order to detail exactly what impact his works have made. Although he was somewhat ignored after a short period of fame in the seventeenth century, until the twentieth century, he is to be formally credited with the evolution of art from Mannerism to the new Baroque. There has been an overall positive impact on art and religion because of his development. Methodology The research will use a non-experimental design. The data collection method will be a combination of observation, interviews, and the use of preexisting records. After an initial period in Australia, becoming familiar with relevant secondary material on the subject I will go to Italy to analyze paintings first hand. The three religious works by Caravaggio that have been selected for personal observation in situ are as follows: n Deposition of Christ in the Sepulchre, 1602-1603, Oil on Canvas, 300 x 203cm, Pinacoteca Vaticana, Vatican City n The Calling of Saint Matthew, 1599-1600, Oil on Canvas, 322 x 340cm, Contareli Chapel, San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome n Crucifixion of Saint Peter, 1600, Oil on Canvas, 230 x 175cm, Cerasi Chapel, Santa Maria del Popolo, Rome Literature Review In researching the identified topic, many of the traditional sources, articles and books, on Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio and his works were that of negativity giving him little or no credit for the profound impact he has had on art history. The intention of this research paper is to disclose the truth through interpretation while counter-arguing past research on the subject that is seemingly incorrectly represented. Primary Sources Alpers, Svetlana. ‘Describe or Narrate? A Problem in Realistic Representation. ’ New Literary History, Vol 8:1, Readers and Spectators: Some Views and Reviews (Autumn 1976), pp. 15-41 This article, taken from the New Literary History journal, volume 8, discusses Caravaggio as a great artist but describes his art as offensive and vulgar rather than profound and evolutionary. In order to validly make my claim, it is necessary to show arguments against my stated hypotheses and counter them effectively, which is why this article will be of significant use to me in compiling my extracted information. Chorpenning, Joseph F. ‘Another Look at Caravaggio and Religion. ’ Artibus et Historiae, Vol 8:16 (1987), pp. 149-158 I believe this journal article can provide the basis for my project. It is very similar to the intentions of my research paper and will help to make my finished piece a worthwhile, significant, and original investigation for the truth. Friedlaender, Walter F. Caravaggio Studies. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1955 Walter Friedlaender, the author of Caravaggio Studies, is one of the first to write about the obscure Italian artist. Although sections of the biography appear to be speculative, there is a great deal of information that is unavailable elsewhere in this book.