Rembrant Van Rijn, The Elevation Of The Cross Flashcards
whats the subject matter (what does it depict, figures, setting etc)
-elevation of the cross (one of most important events in Jesus’s life after Judicous revealed his location)
-there are 3 roman soldiers (one with shining armour with back to viewers and two in the shadows putting cross into position)
-at centre of painting there is a self portrait of Rembrandt illuminated wearing blue and a beret (unrealistic, humanist tendency)
-turbanned man mounted on a white horse directly behind self portrait. Looks directly at viewer implying shared guilt at callous nature of act
-shadowy figures stand around scene
-in the background on the right we can make out one of the thieves carrying his cross
-christ raised on cross is focal point
in which gospels is the elevation of the cross described in (and what do they say)
various ones: mark, Matthew, luke, John
they say having been sentanced to death , christ carries the cross up Golgotha where he is crucified. He is mocked by soldiers and officials and people gamble over his clothes. two thieves are crucified on either side.
effect of christ being illuminated
-holy directional light illuminates christ on the cross (shows divinity as most intense on Jesus
-light shining on christ also draws attention to rembrants self portrait who is by jesus’s feet helping with elevation
-armour shines from same light source drawing our eye around the painting
-centre mid ground is turbanned man on white horse who is semi illuminated, further draws eye
composition
-jesus’s figure is set up diagonally across from centre to the right hand corner creating focal point
who are we drawn to initially and why
strong composition and use of light draws attention to 3 figures initially: jesus, rembrandt, turbanned man due to use of rembrandt lighting
whats the theatrical use of light called
rembrandt lighting
how is the divinity of christ shown
-bright directional light illuminates him in white (white= divinity and purity)
-invisable light source implies its from a higher being
how is christ not idealised and how was this influenced
-looks like a real man agonised by real suffering
-the humanity within representation of christ is underpinned by calvanist doctrine- emphasising christs humanity
what is calvanist doctrine/ what do calvanists believe
calvanists affirm the historic belief that christ is eternally 1 person with both a divine and human nature (emphasises that christ chose to become human to save humanity)
how is this influenced by baroque technique
strong use of chiaroscuro mixed with harsh directional lighting to dramatise the scene and importance of the subject
recalls a baroque technique he admired in the work of 16th C venetian artists
use of colour
marjority of composition painted in earthly tones. (DARK OCHRES, BROWNS ,GREYS) adds sense of historical subject matter and serious which elevates the status
-in keeping with religious painting in 17th C
-ONLY FIGURES THAT OPPOSE THE NATURAL PALLETE: RADIANT LIGHT,BLUES OF REMBRANDTS CLOTHES- emphasis rembrand and christ
effect of most important part of the narrative being in the foreground
key figures brought close to picture plane for dramatic effect
medium/material
oil on canvas
allows for variety of texture and realism
would have spent a long time making this paint
impact of scale
elevates status of jesus and importance of subject
processes and techniques
variety of textures created by oil paint (like gleaming metal of soldiers armour)
made drawings and prepatory sketches in chalk
traditional academic brushwork of old masters (small invisible brushstrokes and smooth finish)
