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Period: to
Fine Art 1600-1700
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The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark (Hamlet), by William Shakespeare
Although it is tempting to include all of Shakespeare's 17th century plays, Hamlet is representative as arguably the best aesthetically and universally. His flawed and tortured characters, including Hamlet, Ophelia, and Gertrude, demonstrate themes related to revenge, justice, internal struggle, and morality. The language is lovely, from Polonius' "To be or not to be" soliloquy to his prosaic "to thine own self be true," and illustrates artistically the existential struggle inherent to man. -
Salome with the Head of John the Baptist, by Michelangelo Merisi de Caravaggio
John the Baptist, whose historical beheading by order of Herod, is a figure of endurance in Christianity. Caravaggio's painting includes remarkable detail and uses differing focal points. Although it depicts a historical scene, the expression on the face of Salome is powerful and intriguing. The executioner also has a peculiarly moving pose, and the onlooker appears horrified and curious at once, possibly symbolizing the inactivity of onlookers in the face of all religious persecution. -
L'Orfeo, by Claudio Monteverdi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ma4OelX45I
L'Orfeo is regarded by most as the first opera, and Monteverdi as an innovator who famously stated, "The end of all music is to affect the soul.” The opera tells the love story of the mythological Orpheus and Eurydice, and alternates between pastoral earthly scenes, which are heavily influenced by strings, and scenes in the underworld, which have a bolder feeling due to a preponderance of brass. It is a tragic tale, beautifully executed through music. -
Judith Slaying Holofernes, by Artemesia Gentileschi
In the seventeenth century, female artists were not admired or revered in any genre. In the modern day, however, feminists have revisited many works, including those of Gentileschi. Her painting of the biblical story of Judith beheading the general Holofernes is brutal, graphic, and masterful. The use of light to illustrate his dying expression and the cross-shaped sword hilt draws the eye, and the expressions on both women's faces are simultaneously feminine, determined, and peaceful. -
Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle's architect is unknown, but it is located in Donjon, Himeji City, Japan. It has six stories, and various gables and other ornamental structures. It is comprised of 83 connected buildings, and has an elaborate defense system for protection. It is often referred to as the White Heron Castle because it is so sparkling white, and many think it resembles a bird in flight. In viewing it, there is a feeling of antiquity, and an almost fairy tale feeling overtakes the observer. -
The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha (Don Quixote), by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
Cervantes' classic novel, published in two parts (1605-1615), tells the story of a man who has decided to revive the chivalric code under the pseudonym Don Quixote, along with his squire, Sancho Panza. This canonical work is innovative in its use of satire to mock tradition, and has inspired the works of many writers and other artists, including Pablo Picasso and Richard Strauss. The word "quixotic" evolved from the title character, and the phrase "thou hast seen nothing yet" originates within. -
Emperor Jahangir Weighs Prince Khurram, by Manohar Das
Das' paintings frequently depicted life at the Royal Court. Jahangir was the fourth Mughal emperor of India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. This painting appears to depict both the "everyday" activities of the court and the wealth and opulence of it simultaneously. While father and son are active together, a wealth of servants and riches color the background. The eye starts on the happy family scene, but is almost forced to scope the rest because of the details, variations, and colors used by Das. -
The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus (Doctor Faustus), by Christopher Marlowe
Doctor Faustus is arguably one of the best of the Elizabethan dramas. Marlowe was a gifted writer, and if he had not died so young, may have superseded even Shakespeare. The play is the classic tale of the doctor who sold his soul to the devil for power in the dark arts, and although humorous at times, ends darkly with the devil collecting his due. This tale warns of the dangers of overlooking opportunities for redemption with lines like “he that loves pleasure must for pleasure fall.” -
Pietà (Sexta Angustia), by Gregorio Fernández
Pietà is the most famous of Fernández's five sculptures on the same theme. It depicts the Madonna weeping over the body of her dead son. Her look of anguish, coupled with her outstretched hand that appears to be questioning the death of Christ, are in striking contrast to his lifeless form. The use of color in Mary's garb makes her the focal point of the piece, and her pain is what is apparent. In contrast, Christ's lifeless form is all neutral, making his form appear as an empty vessel. -
Apollo and Daphne, by Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Bernini's statue illustrating the climax of the story of Apollo's pursuit of the virgin Daphne is striking to view. In the story, Daphne has devoted herself to a life of celibacy, yet Phoebus Apollo fancies her and chases her. When she is exhausted an almost caught, she prays to her father (the River God), who changes her into a laurel tree. The moment of her transformation is brilliantly depicted by Bernini, and her pain is almost palpable as her hands turn to branches beside a foiled Apollo. -
Sonnet X (Death Be Not Proud), by John Donne
Although there are many excellent sonnets from the 17th century, few stand the test of time like Sonnet X. Perhaps it is the subject matter, death, that remains intriguing. Donne personifies "Death," and basically tells him not to be so full of himself, as death is no more frightening than a long sleep or rest. The poem strongly hints at the power and goodness of the afterlife, using an ABBA ABBA CDDC AA rhyme scheme, and has been alluded to by many, including John Gunther and Margaret Edson. -
The Abduction of the Sabine Women (The Rape of the Sabine Women), by Nicolas Poussin
Poussin's depiction of the legendary story of the Romans taking the women of the neighboring town as wives by force is outstanding. The blend of savagery and formality is underscored by the general Romulus, founder of Rome, overlooking the scene and signaling the seizure of the women by raising his cloak. The blending of mostly earth tones and terra cotta periodically contrasted with della robia blue symbolically connects to the crucifixion, and forces the eye to move over the entire scene. -
Il Porcellino, by Pietro Tacca
Il Porcellino is located in Floence, and was sculpted and cast in bronze in the mid-seventeenth century. It is believed to have been inspired by an earlier Roman marble statue of the Calydonian Boar from Hercles' labors, but has far surpassed the original in appreciation and popularity. The realism in the detailing of the boar in bronze makes it extremely lifelike. Its image has been seen in two of the Harry Potter films, and it inspired Hans Christian Anderson's "The Bronze Hog." -
Leviathan, by Thomas Hobbes
Written by philosopher Thomas Hobbes, this work posits social theory in a manner that has affected artistic development over generations. Hobbes assertion that man is inherently evil colors the next four century's artistic and literary works, and his statements including "knowledge is power" and "hell is truth seen too late" are so artistically rendered and poignantly representative of the human condition that they are now part of the vernacular. -
The Taj Mahal, commissioned by Emperor Shah Jahan
The Taj Mahal is one of the most famous structures on earth. It is an absolutely stunning example of Mughal Architecture. It was originally commissioned by Emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It has a vaulted, onion-shaped dome that is unmistakable because of its unique beauty, and is equally striking inside. It creates the feeling for the observer of being a part of a mythical tale in the Arabian Nights. -
The Milkmaid, by Johannes Vermeer
Vermeer's classic painting, from what is often described as the Golden Age of Dutch Painting, is easily recognizable because it is so frequently reproduced, even in the modern era. This work presents a housemaid doing a relatively simple task in pouring milk, but her serene expression and persona belie the mundane nature of the task. The lighting and coloring emphasize the purity of the picture, creating an enduring image of feminine peace and seeming piety. -
Paleis op de Dam (Royal Palace of Amsterdam), built by Jacob van Campen
The Royal Palace of Amsterdam was originally built as a Town Hall for the city. Van Campen was inspired by Roman architecture, largely because the Dutch politicians fancied themselves to be much like the Roman senators and consuls of old. It has a beautiful, formal exterior of marble, but is capped by a lovely domed cupola and weathervane. The overall impression is one of stately importance and whimsy, which is delightful to the eye particularly when compared to the starker Dutch art of the era. -
Paradise Lost, by John Milton
An epic poem by the blind poet John Milton, Paradise Lost depicts the war in heaven, the fall of Lucifer and his Legion, the subsequent temptation of Adam and Eve, and the Fall of Mankind. The beautifully written and descriptive blank verse of the epic have allowed it to remain admired and beloved for hundreds of years, as do the timeless topics of temptation and Original Sin. Milton's verse is spare yet gripping, like Satan's timeless statement, "Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven." -
Sonata da Camera, by Arcangelo Corelli
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQ2jdc-mmiY]
Corelli has often been lauded for his work with the violin, being labeled the "founder of modern violin technique" and "the world's greatest violinist." This can clearly be seen in the Sonata da Camera, where the violins sing in tandem and complementary arrangements. The music feels like it is telling a story. While Corelli did not invent the concerto grosso, he is widely regarded as the composer who popularized it, and who taught it as well. -
King Arthur Opera (The British Worthy), by Henry Purcell and John Dryden
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdBDRSSmlJI
Purcell and Dryden's King Arthur Opera tells the story of the mythological hero in the battles between the Britons and the Saxons. These are the events before the stories of Camelot and the Knights of the Round Table. Many of the main characters do not sing, and there is much storytelling through the instrumentals. The Frost Scene is largely regarded as brilliant, and is an extremely moving scene that draws in the listener with its dramatic build-up. -
The Tree of Life, by Cristobal de Villalpando
The Tree of Life is a popular religious reference, and appears in many works of art. Villalpando has created a unique and innovative take on the image in his depiction. He has taken the image of the tree of life, which is present in the mythologies of many religions, and tied it together with crucifixion imagery. The result is a graphic and unusual work that draws the eye upward and inward at the same time, yet makes the viewer stop and ruminate on each specific image that is part of the whole.
