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Significance of The Triumph of Immaculate & Washington Crossing the Delaware

Apr 18, 2023 | 0 comments

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Apr 18, 2023 | Essays | 0 comments

The two pieces of art I choose for my paper are The Triumph of Immaculate by De Paulo Matteis (De, 2015) and Washington Crossing the Delaware, a painting by Emmanuel Leutze (Leutze,1851). The link to the Triumph of Immaculate painting is https://www.thinglink.com/scene/571727979533565952 while that of Washing crossing the Delaware is http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online/search/11417 or can be found by visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Both paintings are significant in the western history as they serve as a reminder of historical events that shaped the western nation politically and religiously. Washington Crossing the Delaware honors the crossing of the Delaware River by General George Washington in December 1776 during the American Revolutionary War while the Triumph of Immaculate signifies the religious battles between Catholics and Protestants.

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The styles engaged in the paintings were influenced by the periods they were painted in historical events and cultural aspects and relied on the exact events captured in the paintings. The Triumph of Immaculate is an imaginative piece that captures the religious divide. Washington crossing the Delaware captures a real event that took place in the American history. The Triumph of Immaculate adopts the baroque style which is an artistic style composed of embellished motions and quickly interpreted features to generate tension, drama, grandeur and exuberance in sculpture, architecture, painting, literature, theater, dance and music. The style emanated in Rome in 1600 and was encouraged by the Conservative Catholic church spreading across Europe.

Washington Crossing the Delaware represents a style popular among the neo-classists with gesture and subject matter of the Romantics. It highlights artistic features of its style movement by use of suspect textures and colors, and drawings exhibiting substantial concentration and stress on the composition. In the Triumph of Immaculate, themes characteristic of conservatism and status quo are evident while in Washington crossing Delaware, rebellion and heroism feature are more apparent with the thematic composition of mutiny against aristocracy.

Figure 1(De,Matteis)

The painting by Paolo De Mtteis is referred to as The Triumph of the Immaculate from the Baroque art movement. The masterpiece was painted in Italy around 1710 and can be found in Gemaldegalerie-Berlin as indicated by Pestilli (13).

Figure 2 (Leutze, Emmanuel)

The painting is a masterpiece by Emanuel Leutze referred to as Washington Crossing the Delaware. It is a realistic painting painted in 1851 and can currently be found at the Metropolitan Museum of Art but was originally painted and exhibited in Germany as stated by Wierich (20).

INTRODUCTION.

Works of art play a significant role, for entertainment, educational, a reflection of the society’s moral values, political significance, Religious significance, and problems to the society is faced with. There exist a number of good painters since time memorial. Paolo De Mattei is an Italian painter famous for his painting, The Triumph of the Immaculate. The piece is a narrative detail, it is a full story presented as a painting. The painting is of the baroque era, with their visceral images and easy to understand. The painting is dramatic in that it captures the events and narrative of the ascent to the highest order of existence of well put together beings in drab colors. The images are covered in shadows cast by the brilliant white light from the clouds. The piece was painted in Italy around 1710 and is available in the Gemaldegalerie, Berlin. Another painter famous for his art is Emmanuel Leutze, who is well known for the painting Washington Crossing the Delaware. In contrast with Matteis dramatic painting, Leutze painting is realistic. The painting was originally painted and exhibited in Germany. This paper shall discuss the importance of these paintings, the significance they played in the different style movements, the similarity, and the difference and shall also include a personal reflection on the impact of these paintings in today’s society

The two paintings are significant in the western history as they serve as a reminder of historical events that shaped the western nation politically and religiously. Washington Crossing the Delaware honors the crossing of the Delaware River by General George Washington in December 1776 during the American Revolutionary War. The painting leaves a great mark in the American history as it indicates an unexpected courageous move by Washington and his dedication to the war that contributed to the American victory (Barratt 201). Similarly, the Triumph of the Immaculate signifies the period in the history of the religious divide. The Catholics used art as a weapon against their counterparts, protestants, to show the strength of God’s power, encourage monarchy and strengthen the Catholic Church as reflected in the painting since the paintings shows victory by God’s power as described by Pestilli (2013).

The two paintings show different style movements and come from different time periods. However, the styles employed in the paintings were influenced by the periods they were painted in historical events and cultural aspects and relied on the exact events captured in the paintings. For instance, De & Frick Art Reference Library says that Paolo de Matteis work was purely imaginative of a religious war motivated by the desire to contribute to the historical religious fight while Emanuel captured a real event in the American history that was his motivation factor (Barratt 200). Therefore, the two paintings serve as a reminder of events that occurred during those periods.

The two paintings give a glimpse into the old style and if possible make comparisons with the twenty first century contemporary style to get an idea of the development of art over the years The paintings illustrate the historical events that shaped the current political, cultural and religious aspects of western nations, as well as the necessity to preserve national heritage as implied by Wierich, J. (2012). For instance, The Triumph of the Immaculate gives an insight into the remarkable religiously divided that contributed to the establishment of various churches.

The Triumph of the Immaculate is an artistic work created by Paolo De Matteis. The style period of this painting is Baroque. In Baroque, the artistic style composed of embellished motions and quickly interpreted features to generate tension, drama, grandeur and exuberance in sculpture, architecture, painting, literature, theater, dance and music. The style emanated in Rome in 1600 and was encouraged by the Conservative Catholic church spreading across Europe. The triumph of the Immaculate is in oil and canvas that is in medium size painting (D’Ancona 30). Washington crossing the Delaware is an artistic work, by Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze, a German-American artist. It was painted in 1851, and, in fact, the 149 in x 255 in painting is located in The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The drawing venerates George Washington crossing the Delaware River in the eve of December 25th in 1776 during the American Revolution War. The painting style represents among the most popular neo-classists with gesture and subject matter of the Romantics (Wierich 6). The Washington Crossing Delaware highlights artistic features of its style movement by use of suspect textures and colors, and drawings exhibiting substantial concentration and stress on the composition. The current Leutze’s painting of Washington Crossing Delaware was a repaint done in the 19th century in the Düsseldorf school as the original was damaged by British Air Raids in Germany with the painting being is a reflection of the Düsseldorf Neo-classist’s style movement at the time. General Washington is highlighted by an unnaturally glowing sky, as his visage catches the rising sun. The colors are composed of mostly murky tones, as expected at sunup, but there are scarlet highlights recurring throughout the work of art. Foreshortening, angle and the far-away boats all provide depth to the work of art and stress Washington’s boat (Groseclose 67). Encourage by the conservative Catholic Church, the painting highlights themes held centrally by the movement such as divinity. They convened at Council of Trent held that art should relay religious subjects in both emotional and direct involvement. The aristocracy witnessed the use of Baroque architectural style and art used as a means of unusual visitors and expressing power, control, and triumph. In the painting, the primary attention is on Jesus, and he is easily spotted. Baroque makes the main character the most dominant in its art and architecture. Other symbolic paintings include God, who is shown in the lighter glow and the Pope, who is portrayed as small and insignificant (D’Ancona 95). One striking similarity between Washington Crossing Delaware and The Triumph of Immaculate is the centrality placed by the painters of the main character. In the former this is on General Washington while in the latter, on Jesus Christ. Another similarity between the two is grandeur and sensuality. The paintings also present strong emotional themes. The significant differences evident between the two paintings are a consequence of the reigning theme sin the two historical movements (Thinklink 19). The Triumph of Immaculate sought to impress and was thus placed at the entrance of courts, guest rooms and grand staircases (D’Ancona 57). On the other hand, Washington crossing Delaware, a neoclassic painting has many aspects of restriction because the movement relied on art that accentuated form and portion and use of precise lines. Since Washington Crossing Delaware also has Romantics art embedded on it, there is a heavy influence of revolt against the aristocracy of the 18th century with heroic portrays (i.e., General Washington). The Baroque painting also differed from the neoclassical in that it emphasized the ‘ideal’ or the natural order. Finally, the two changing themes in the paintings are important when clearly understood with knowledge of the reigning movements. In the Triumph of Immaculate, themes characteristic of conservatism and status quo are evident (against rising Protestant Reform) while in Washington crossing Delaware, rebellion and heroism feature are more apparent with the thematic composition of mutiny against aristocracy (Wierich 32).

CONCLUSION

The Triumph of the Immaculate by Mattei and Washington Crossing the Delaware by Leutze are significant pieces of art in religious, political, cultural and American history. Matteis for example, explains the struggles and religious war between Catholics and protestant that has resulted in the many churches today. Leutze piece on the other hand,displays the struggles that the American people and the devotion they had that is reflected through General Washington which consequently led to their victory in the American Revolution War. They are also significant in the development of art throughout the years. Mattei’s painting captures the Baroques dramatic purpose and is very detailed. It also eludes exaggeration and emotional. The paintings also show a number of similarities from the way the images are centrally placed in each picture, the emotions they elude to the audience and the sensuality. The two paintings are not only significant to the world of arts but also to the different aspects of society such as religion and politics.

Works Cited.

Barratt, Carrie. Washington Crossing the Delaware: Restoring an American masterpiece. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art,2011.

De, Matteis. Paolo De Matteis: Artist File.1920. Frick Art Reference Library

D’Ancona, Mirella Levi. The Iconography of the Immaculate Conception, in the Middle Ages and Early Renaissance. Art Association of America in conjunction with the Art bulletin, 1957, Vol. 7.

De, Paolo. Triumph of Immaculate.2015.ThinkLink.

Groseclose, Barbara S. Washington Crossing the Delaware: The Political Context. American Art Journal (1975): 70-78.

Leutze,Emmanuel. Leutze Emmanuel:Artist File.1851.The Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York City.

Pestilli, Livio. Paolo de Matteis: Neapolitan Painting and Cultural History in Baroque Europe.2013.

Wierich, James. Grand themes: Emanuel Leutze, Washington crossing the Delaware, and American history painting. University Park, PA: Pennsylvania State University Press, 2012.

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