The big sky-lighter.
Italian art 17-18 centuries, baroque.
Luka Giordano 1632-1705. He had a nick-name – Fa Presto (working fast). About 3000 paintings. H possesses 5. “Lapithai fighting centaurs”. L – one of the tribes, that inhabited Greece. It’s a literally subject from the “Metamorphosis” by Ovid. Centaurs were invited to the wedding of the king of Lapithy. They tried to abduct the bride and other women. They were defeated and ousted. Baroque composition, full of movement, bright colors, multi-figured composition.
In the second part of the 17th century Venetian school was the dominated school in the Italian art. One of the artist of 18th century – Jovanni Tiepolo 1696-1770. German, Italy, Spain. Decorator – painted huge frescos, chancel-compositions.
«The abduction of Sabine-women». Literally subject from a book by Plutarch. Sabines was a tribe that lived near Rome (it was founded by warriors, there were no women here). Romans invited Sabines to the party and abducted their women. Sabines came to Rome unarmed, they couldn’t protect their women. Baroque – movement, full of light, waving hare, waving cloth.
Tiepolo painted a series of ten paintings on roman history. We have 5, 3 in New-York, 2 in Vienne.
“Mutious Schavolo in the camp of Porsenna” (Муций Сцеволо в лагере Парсена). The subject is from roman history – a young roman man Mutious got into the camp of atruskiens, he was planning to kill the leader Porsenna. By mistake he killed another man. He was arrested and taken to Porsenna, who threatened to torture him, but the young man displayed carriage – he put his right hand into a fire. Porsenna was impressed with his fortitude and let him go. “Schavolo” means left-handed. (sculpture “Russian Schavolo” – in the Russian Museum).
“Triumph of emperor” (торжественное вхождение в побежденный город). More likely that the artist never seen the elephant before, it looks really strange.
18th century – a new genre appeared in Italian art – urbanscape:
1. one is showing scenes from the life of nobility
2. everyday life
“Arrival of French ambassador in Venice” – Antonio Canalle (Canalletto) 1697-1768. He is very precise in small details, also he’s romantic.
Next wall – Michele Marieski “Rialto-bridge” (one of the most famous bridge in Venice, market). He showed everyday life as against Canalle, but was inspired by Canaletto.
Bernardo Belotto – a pupil and a nephew of Canalletto. His urbanscapes aren’t so poetic – he was more than precise in details. He created a series of the views of Dresden. Historical centre was restored, they used paintings by Belotto to restore the historical centre of Dresden. The painting “Market-square in Dresden».
Jusephe Matsiono 1644-1725 – “Death of Adonis”. He was a handsome young man, beloved of Venice. While he was hunting, he was killed by wild boar. One version – boar was sent by Mars, another – it was Mars himself. Typical for baroque – movement.
Как рассказывать – вошли в Большой Итальянский просвет, начать с urbanscape (так как новый жанр), встать в середину зала, оттуда видно обе картины – и Тьеполо, и Джордано. Сказать, что развивается барокко, один из ярких представителей – Тьеполо. Похожий сюжет – Джордано. Кроме барочных картин – барочная скульптура. Следующая остановка – Белотто. Back to roman history – two more paintings by Tiepolo.