Issues of Art in Service of Religion

Running Head: ISSUES OF ART IN SERVICE OF RELIGION
Issues of Art in Service of Religion
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Institution
Author’s Note
ISSUES OF ART IN SERVICE OF RELIGION
Artists see the world differently. For this reason, it is not uncommon to find
observable differences in the artistic creations of artists working on the same subject. A
comparison of the works of Caravaggio and Peter Paul Reubens, who both work on religion,
paints a picture of the situation.
Caravaggio, The Entombment of Christ.
This painting is located in Vatican City. It depicts the scene after Jesus’ death, when
some of his close associates took his body and went to bury it at the tomb (Harris and Zucker,
2015). In this painting, Caravaggio used techniques which made the audience feel they were
in the scene themselves. First, he uses “tenebroso” sometimes called “dramatic illumination”,
a technique involving painting from a dark background. This effect sheds more light into the
burial scene which happened in the night. Next, he concentrates all of the objects in his
painting at the foreground (Harris and Zucker, 2015). This technique is common with
Baroque artists who sought to reduce the distance between the audience and the paintings. He
also depicts movement in the composition of the work. The audience can see Jesus’ body
being lowered into the tomb. Again, this is another technique common with Baroque artists.
Finally, Caravaggio is very real in his work. All the individuals in the painting look so
ordinary. Baroque artists intended their audience to feel the closeness with the painting
(Harris and Zucker, 2015).
Peter Paul Rubens, The Raising of the Cross
This painting is located at the Antwerp Cathedral in Belgium. It is a triptych,
depicting the scene at the cross as Jesus’ body on the cross gets hoisted on the ground
(Pritchard, 2015). Rueben received a commission to make the painting in the post-
reformation era. Therefore, the Catholic Church intended to use this painting to emphasize
the Eucharist, which was opposed by the Protestants (Pritchard, 2015). First, Rueben uses
dynamism, a Baroque technique, in all the three planes of the painting. Objects in the painting
are depicted in diagonal lines to enable the audience focus on key items in the scene. He
carries forward his narrative through all the planes. They all have uniting factor, the sky, and
interestingly, some objects in the left plane form a line with the objects on the right plane.
Similarities Between Reuben’s and Caravaggio’s Paintings
Both of the paintings focus on a religious theme involving events that marked Jesus’
final days on earth. Also, they all use dramatic illumination to describe the events in the
scenes. Lastly, the figures in both paintings depict movement, to the point that the objects in
the scenes get alive.
Differences Between Reuben’s and Caravaggio’s Paintings
Though both paintings use dramatic illusion, Caravaggio’s work is set on a dark
background. Most likely, he used this effect to show the darkness in the tomb. In Reuben’s
work, on the other hand, the evening sky gives some light to the scene. Next, the background
in Caravaggio’s painting is concentrated on the foreground. The situation is different in
Reuben’s painting where the figures are spread across the space with some vegetable growth
filling the background at the top. Lastly, Reuben uses many figures that are situated on
different planes capturing the entire scene at the crucifixion site. Some of these figures are
common in the early Christian history, like Mary and John who appear on the left plane.
Caravaggio’s work uses fewer and uncommon figures who feature on only one scene.
These figures reflect how art can be used to convey thoughts on religion. Besides,
they show how different our perceptions are on various issues in life.
Reference
Harris, B., & Zucker, S. (2015, July 19). “Caravaggio, Deposition (or Entombment),”
Smarthistory. Retrieved July 6, 2020, from https://smarthistory.org/caravaggio-
deposition/
Pritchard, S. (2015, November 19). “Peter Paul Rubens, Elevation of the Cross,”
Smarthistory. Retrieved July 6, 2020, from https://smarthistory.org/peter-paul-rubens-
elevation-of-the-cross/

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Running Head: ISSUES OF ART IN SERVICE OF RELIGION

Issues of Art in Service of Religion

paints a picture of the situation.

Caravaggio, The Entombment of Christ.

(Harris and Zucker, 2015).

Peter Paul Rubens, The Raising of the Cross

This painting is located at the Antwerp Cathedral in Belgium. It is a triptych,

Similarities Between Reuben’s and Caravaggio’s Paintings

the scenes get alive.

Differences Between Reuben’s and Caravaggio’s Paintings

in Caravaggio’s painting is concentrated on the foreground. The situation is different in

Smarthistory. Retrieved July 6, 2020, from https://smarthistory.org/caravaggio-

Smarthistory. Retrieved July 6, 2020, from https://smarthistory.org/peter-paul-rubens-

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