16th Century Archive

The Creation of Adam by Michelangelo

By Nitin

February 7, 201416th Century History Painting WesternNo comments

(2 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)

The Creation of Adam is a part of the Sistine Chapel ceiling fresco created by Michelangelo. It is the most famous part of the whole ceiling. The depiction represents God accompanied by angles giving the ‘touch of life’ to Adam. It is a visual representation of the event from the Book of Genesis when on the sixth day, god created Adam, eve and other flora and fauna. Story of Creation of Adam and Eve According to the Book of Genesis (the first book of the Hebrew Bible), God first created Adam on the sixth day. He put him in the Garden of Eden and went away to create other things like animals, trees, rivers, etc. (including trees of knowledge and life). Then after he brought […]

La fornarina by Raphael

By Nitin

February 3, 201416th Century Portrait Painting WesternNo comments

(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

La fornarina was a skillful depiction by high-renaissance artist Raphael. It resembles with Leonardo’s Mona Lisa in terms of the posture, use of the model and the alleged idea behind the portrait. It also includes some elements of popular painting style Chiaroscuro which Raphael borrowed from Caravaggio. La Fornarina, Raphael’s Mistress It is said that the model seated for the portrait was Raphael’s real life model called Margarita Luti. The title of the painting means “the baker’s daughter”. According to Giorgio Vasari, the renaissance period art historian, Raphael was “a very amorous man’ and often looking for ‘amorous pleasures’. Allegedly, during his life he had many mistresses one after another, including daughters of his patrons. Margarita Luti appeared in Raphael’s another portrait La Velata as […]

At the Masquerade by Charles Hermans

By admin

January 18, 201416th Century Genre Painting WesternNo comments

(2 votes, average: 3.50 out of 5)

Masquerade Ball was a popular tradition in 15th century. Being a part of the carnival’s seasons in Venice, its popularity grew as it also became the part of various functions, parties and royal marriages. Artist have portrayed such masquerade ball in his painting in which two ladies are wearing masks, as the masks were preferred in such parties. In old times, masquerade mainly featured the couple dancing but gradually as the function became more and more public, the changes happened in the festival. The masks came as a part of the game in which the guest would come with a mask and the hosts would try to recognize them. It was kind of party-game which are played today. In the depiction, the displayed ladies are […]