Art Lovers discussion

For this one, since there are so many paintings of this subject, lets keep every painting to the ones actually named The Pieta

Vincent van Gogh
(after Delacroix 1889)

Heather wrote: "

Vincent vanGogh
(after Delacroix 1889)"



Eugene Delacroix
1850

What are the differences between the van Gogh 'Pieta' and that by Delacroix in your opinion

El Greco
1575

Let's see here.

I don't like the color scheme of the van Goth, and I don't like Mary's face, but I do like the sort of indifferent serenity on Christ's face.

In the Delacroix I like the white across Christ's legs, but I don't like Mary's face and her color scheme. I like the seeming peacefulness in Christ face, and I also like the mix of blotchy colors on his torso.

I like El Greco's Mary the best. But the look on her face, what might she be thinking? I do think the pyramidal construction is a bit too obvious. It took me awhile to discern the figure to Christ's right (viewers right), at first I had only a disembodied arm on Mary's left shoulder (from Mary's perspective). The dark circle around Christ's eye, actually the whole of Christ done in the pale black and white looks like death.

Very interesting study. - )

Annibale Carracci, ca. 1600

Tracey wrote: "

Annibale Carracci, ca. 1600"

Compositionally very similar to Michelangelo's.

Annibale Carracci, ca. 1600

The look of grief on Mary's face is beautifully done.

Any thoughts on why Van Gogh flipped Delacroix's composition?

It also seems to be the positioning of her left hand, with the light on her palm, it's almost as if she is thinking, my son, for what; or what now?

It seems it only matters if you have a few others to look at to realize the flip! But now that I'm looking the El Greco is slightly different in the sense that Mary's head is going one way and Christ's is going the other, crossed, while in the others they M&C tilt the same way.

I was just wondering about the Van Gogh because of "after Delacroix 1889"; it seems to be a study of the earlier painting (though very much in VVG's own style). The overall pose is identical, except for the flip... unless one of the jpegs is flipped...

Tracey wrote: "I was just wondering about the Van Gogh because of "after Delacroix 1889"; it seems to be a study of the earlier painting (though very much in VVG's own style). The overall pose is identical, excep..."

I think he did it to be different. So people would notice. It's different.

Daniele Crespi
1626
Museo del Prado

Fra Bartolomeo
1516
Palazzo Pitti, Florence, Italy

I just now found the above two Pieta paintings painted about a century apart. Not being as knowledgeable about the different movements through the centuries, I am just looking at the differences between the Pieta by Fra Bartolomeo in 1516 and that by Daniele Crespi in 1626. I noticed that the latter has much more of the chiaroscuro resembling Caravaggio's works which makes more sense as the age of Caravaggio was between when these two paintings were made.

Heather wrote: "Daniele Crespi
1626
Museo del Prado"

The woman's (Mary?) face is very evocative here. She's looking to the heavens, but what is her expression suppose to convey?

Heather wrote: "Fra Bartolomeo
1516
Palazzo Pitti, Florence, Italy"

I like this one; especially the woman clasping, so lovingly it seems, Christ's legs.

Mark wrote: "Heather wrote: "Daniele Crespi
1626
Museo del Prado"

The woman's (Mary?) face is very evocative here. She's looking to the heavens, but what is her expression suppose to convey?"

That's a good question. In my opinion, or what I think at first glance, is she has been not only his mother, but a devout follower and believer that He is the Christ and is now looking to heaven to ask "Why?" Maybe her belief is shaken? Or just confused.

Heather wrote: "Mark wrote: "Heather wrote: "Daniele Crespi
1626
Museo del Prado"

The woman's (Mary?) face is very evocative here. She's looking to the heavens, but what is her expression suppose to convey?"

Tha..."
Thank you, Heather. I was sort of afraid to say it, but it seems rather obvious that the artist intended for us, the way her face is framed in darkness, to wonder what her thoughts, conveyed, or exposed by her expression might possibly be. So, Yes! That is exactly what I see too! Why?
(I do have a more cynical side where she might be thinking, "Satisfied?")