Caravaggio
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio was an Italian artist born in 1571. His most famous work was the decorating of the Contarelli Chapel in San Luigi dei Francesi in Rome with three scenes of the life of Saint Matthew. The Calling of Saint Matthew is noted for its dramatic use of cellar light, streaming in from a source above the action, to illuminate Christ's hand gesture and the other figures in the painting. In 1601, Caravaggio received his second major commission, from Santa Maria del Popolo in Rome for a Conversion of Saint Paul and Crucifixion of Saint Peter. In this a bright shaft of light carries symbolic meaning, indicating the bestowal of Christian faith upon Saul.
Although the use of both realistic types and strong chiaroscuro originated in northern Italian art of the previous century, Caravaggio brought new life and immediacy to these aspects of painting and his been a strong influence on many people and their work's, not just artists.
Director Martin Scorsese has said that he has been strongly influenced by Caravaggio and his work:
"Caravaggio is there in the bar scenes in Mean Streets, where I tried to get a dramatic use of bursts of light." and "What hit me about his work was the extraordinary power of realism."
Caravaggio died in 1610 aged 38, but he is still inspiring people today.
Rembrandt
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn was born in 1606. He was a Dutch painter and is generally considered one of the greatest painters and printamkers in European art. His contributions to art came in a period that historians call the Dutch Golden Age.
At the age of 22, Rembrandt moved to Leiden and began to get his own students. One of his pupils was the famous artist Gerrit Dou. In 1631 he moved to Amsterdam where he became the most popular portrait painter in Holland. He received numerous commissions for portraits and paintings of religious matters. During this time, Rembrandt's paintings are mostly focused on strong lighting effects. He was influenced by Caravaggio. He also became famous for his landscapes and etchings. Rembrandt painted between fifty and sixty self portraits during his lifetime. Overall he did more than 600 paintings and over 2,000 etchings and drawings.
He died aged 63 in 1669 in Amsterdam.
Vermeer
Johan Vermeer was a Dutch artist born in 1632. Since that time Vermeer's reputation has grown, and he is now acknowledged as one of the greatest painters of the Dutch Golden Age. He is renowned for his use of light in his work.His works include Girl With The Pearl Earing and The Milkmaid.
Often the sparkling pearly highlights in Vermeer's paintings have been linked to possible use of a camera obscura, the primitive lens of which would produced anexaggerated perspective. Such effects can be seen in Lady at the Virginals with a Gentleman. Vermeer's interest in optics is also seen in this work by the mirror reflection above the lady at the virginals.
Vermeer died in 1675 at the age of 43.
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio was an Italian artist born in 1571. His most famous work was the decorating of the Contarelli Chapel in San Luigi dei Francesi in Rome with three scenes of the life of Saint Matthew. The Calling of Saint Matthew is noted for its dramatic use of cellar light, streaming in from a source above the action, to illuminate Christ's hand gesture and the other figures in the painting. In 1601, Caravaggio received his second major commission, from Santa Maria del Popolo in Rome for a Conversion of Saint Paul and Crucifixion of Saint Peter. In this a bright shaft of light carries symbolic meaning, indicating the bestowal of Christian faith upon Saul.
Although the use of both realistic types and strong chiaroscuro originated in northern Italian art of the previous century, Caravaggio brought new life and immediacy to these aspects of painting and his been a strong influence on many people and their work's, not just artists.
Director Martin Scorsese has said that he has been strongly influenced by Caravaggio and his work:
"Caravaggio is there in the bar scenes in Mean Streets, where I tried to get a dramatic use of bursts of light." and "What hit me about his work was the extraordinary power of realism."
Caravaggio died in 1610 aged 38, but he is still inspiring people today.
Rembrandt
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn was born in 1606. He was a Dutch painter and is generally considered one of the greatest painters and printamkers in European art. His contributions to art came in a period that historians call the Dutch Golden Age.
At the age of 22, Rembrandt moved to Leiden and began to get his own students. One of his pupils was the famous artist Gerrit Dou. In 1631 he moved to Amsterdam where he became the most popular portrait painter in Holland. He received numerous commissions for portraits and paintings of religious matters. During this time, Rembrandt's paintings are mostly focused on strong lighting effects. He was influenced by Caravaggio. He also became famous for his landscapes and etchings. Rembrandt painted between fifty and sixty self portraits during his lifetime. Overall he did more than 600 paintings and over 2,000 etchings and drawings.
He died aged 63 in 1669 in Amsterdam.
Vermeer
Johan Vermeer was a Dutch artist born in 1632. Since that time Vermeer's reputation has grown, and he is now acknowledged as one of the greatest painters of the Dutch Golden Age. He is renowned for his use of light in his work.His works include Girl With The Pearl Earing and The Milkmaid.
Often the sparkling pearly highlights in Vermeer's paintings have been linked to possible use of a camera obscura, the primitive lens of which would produced anexaggerated perspective. Such effects can be seen in Lady at the Virginals with a Gentleman. Vermeer's interest in optics is also seen in this work by the mirror reflection above the lady at the virginals.
Vermeer died in 1675 at the age of 43.
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