Great paintings often provide us a window to the past. They show us about the people of the past, and how their beliefs shape our world. In early February, I went to an exhibition about the paintings of the Venetian Renaissance. Taking place in the Hong Kong Museum of Art, the event featured paintings from the Venetian School, among Titian and other artists. This influential artistic school is unique in terms of style, when one compares it to the other contemporary schools in Italy. As I am always fascinated with the Renaissance, this serves as an odyssey to a bygone era.
In European history, the Renaissance represents a dawn of modernity. Human civilization has experienced a paradigm shift intellectually: the theologically- and monarchically-oriented Medieval Era was metamorphosed into the secular age of Humanism. The rediscovery of Greek and Latin Classics has rejuvenated the intellectual spirit that has motivated the endeavor of Man's inquisition into himself and his surroundings.
That is, however, a caveat to this sentiment. While a certain perspective of the Renaissance tends to emphasize the humanistic dimension of the period, from the establishment of the city states to the Realistic political philosophy of Machiavelli; this view appears to overlook the religious and/or spiritual dimension of the era. The inspiring aspect about the Renaissance is the fine balance that was struck between the spiritual and the secular. One can realize this through the appreciation of the Venetian paintings.
Titian is considered as the most famous painter from the Venetian school. Through his portrayal of idealized feminine beauty, mythological / religious icons, natural landscapes and rural lives, he has revolutionized some of the themes prevalent in the school, and has also influenced many subsequent artists. Titian was in particular noted for his meticulous use of color to give depth and contrast to his work. Believe it or not, he has used almost all the readily available and rare pigments of his time. His ‘arsenal’ of color has certainly punched up his work!
Titian was among the first to work in the genre of ‘bella’, which showed portraits of idealized beauty. Often nude, always beautiful, the reclining body posture has become a Titian signature. The placement of a minor object was often highlighted by a sharp use of colour, which provided a contrast to the major theme. On the other hand, Titian expressed rich human emotions through his depiction of natural landscapes, an approach similar to the use of mise-en-scene in cinematic art.
Regarding these Venetian paintings, a more realistic feel can be observed, in contrast to the prior work from the Medieval era. Dynamic action like battles can be portrayed on a static canvas, and this represents a testament to the craftsmanship of the artists. The Renaissance painting has demonstrated the use of one-point perspective. The spiritual theme of a painting is organized in a symmetric manner, signifying divine providence and the rational order of the universe. The Venetian style shows a composition in depth similar to deep focus cinema. The foreground and background are shown with layered emphasis, and the human figures at different positions are all portrayed with clarity.
A highly enjoyable experience!
by Ed Law
Conatus Classics
