The Christ Paintings of Sandro Botticelli
http://phistars.blogspot.com/2012/05/christ-paintings-of-sandro-botticelli.html
The Christ Paintings of Sandro Botticelli
Well, today ladies and gentlemen, I am going to talk to you about Jesus Christ. It is my hope that you embrace the Lord, with the same fervor as I do. Nah!! I am just messing with you. I am going to have to mention Christ from time to time. Its had to describe Jesus paintings without mentioning the Jesus (hehehehehe). Well, the first painting features the Resurrected Christ. In Botticelli's version, Christ is wearing the crown of thorns and has his wound still bleeding. He is showing the Longinus Lance wound at his heart. Just like the usual depictions, Christ's wound is emitting light. He looks like an icon because paintings back then helped the worshiper get closer to God. This one is different from the Gothic depictions because his looks are humanistic. He actually looks like a 3D being, with shadings and all. The source of light emanates from him (meaning that he glows in the dark). In any case, this lovely painting deserves 5 star rating.
The next painting is called " The adoration of the Magi". The Magi basically followed a star to the birthplace of Jesus. Anyhow, this Botticelli's painting has a lot of contemporary people mixed in with other historical characters. This became common in paintings funded by private patrons. Botticelli's scenery tries to mimic ancient Roman houses. The inside is open to allow for the viewer to see the inside of the barn. The scenery is divided between the Holy Family and their worshipers. Next to the horses (far left), I see a lil person (i.e midget). Lil persons usually accompanied kings and queens. They were their...pets...This one seems to be more of a diplomat. He actually has a sword and kingly pose. Perhaps, he was a favorite of the Medici. As for Jesus, there one of the Magi is kissing his lil foot. He is giving the usual blessing (you know, May God Bless you, in the name of the Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit). That's the meaning of the usual hand pose of Jesus. In any case, this lovely painting deserves 5 star rating.
The next painting is called "Pity". It refers to the Virgin Mary's mourning of her dead son. Here the Virgin has Jesus on her lap. She seems to have fainted. John the Evangelist is trying to keep Jesus's body from falling, while consoling his Mother (i.e. the Virgin Mary. You remember, that in the cross Jesus asked the Beloved Apostle to take care of his mother?). Anyhow, the lady in red kissing the head of Christ is Mary Magdalene. Its popular belief that Mary Magdalene was in love with Jesus (then again, you could say the same thing about Peter. He was such a fan girl... no disrespect...hehehe).
Speaking of which, Peter is behind Mary Magdalene. You can recognize him because he is carrying the keys to heaven. By the feet of Jesus there is Martha. She was with the Virgin Mary at the site of the crucifixion. Behind the Virgin, was another Mary. Yeah, Mary was a popular name. Then again, the one with the veil might be Saint Veronica. She was a saint that was said to have given her veil to help Christ drench the sweat from his forehead. There is no record of this Saint. The old man is Joseph of Arimathea. He donated his own tomb to Jesus Christ. The other guy is Nicodemus (the guy with the sword). He helped prepare the dead body. Behind them we see the open grave.
The grave looks less like a cave and more like a mausoleum. All, the figures are focused of Jesus. The Virgin Mary looks a bit older. She is usually portrayed as eternally youthful. What's usual is her swooning (as in fainting) figure. It was only later, during the Counter Reformation, that the Virgin was portrayed 100% strong all the time. Lets see, all figures express restrained emotions. They are not too crazy. They are also idealized (even the old guy). In any case, this painting deserves 5 star ratings.
This is another Adoration of the Magi. Here the Medici family has placed itself with the Holy Family. They are trying to equate themselves with the wise men. Don't forget, that Kings where part of the Medici. So, it makes sense they share the stage with the Magi. On the far right, the guy in brown is said to be Botticelli. This is the only character looking directly at the viewer. The rest are focused on the Holy Family. This scene takes place inside the barn. Its kinda ruined looking. Oh well, this Botticelli painting deserves 5 star rating.
The next painting shows "The Flight Into Egypt". Here we see the Holy Family with their donkey. In the old days, the status of Joseph kept sinking. They always saw him as the third wheel in the lovely relationship between the Virgin and Jesus. He kinda does seem to be sinking into the background. The main figures are Jesus and the Virgin. Well, the story is that the Holy Family had to flee because Herod the Great was having one of those paranoid moods. You remember the slaughter of the Innocent? Nah, not really, its when Herod butchered all children from the age of 5 bellow. Call it Messiah paranoia. In those days, hundreds and thousands of wanna be Messiahs were wrecking Rome asunder. Herod the ever pragmatic one decided to slay all the children that came remotely close to the Magi's descriptions. You know, this seems like a parallel between the life of Jesus and Moses.
Well, over the top, the painting has good perspective. Between Joseph and the Donkey one does not see very much of the background. Also, the view is obstructed by some bushes. They all are finely detailed. The mantle of the Virgin has an interesting icon. You can see it near the legs of Jesus. Its the seven point stars (the one that the Magi followed to find Jesus) and ten droplets. Its a real bummer. Perhaps, its the symbol of the church or patron of the painting. In any case, this painting deserves 5 star rating.
The next one is called "Beweinung Christi". Well, by now, you all folks know this arrangement. There is a maiden with the face covered in the Greek Fashion. The Greeks used to show indescribable sadness by having the maidens cover their faces with a veil. Works pretty well. The odd angle of Jesus head ads to the limp lifeless effect of the body. The only person gazing at the heavens is the man with the crown of thorns and the three nails. He seems to be asking something like, "God, why did you let your son die?". Its a real bummer the Crucifixion. In any case, this one deserves 5 star rating.
Here is The Adoration of the Magi (1500). This version is far more crowded than the others we seen thus far. In this one, there is more horizon and background.We get the feel that a huge crown is going to see Jesus. The barn is identical to a ruined Greek house (or temple, or just plain old Greek Ruins). This one too has some of Botticelli's contemporaries. I am not going to go too crazy about this one. Lets just give it 5 stars and move along.
This painting shows Christ Carrying the Cross. The background shows the walls of a medieval castle. Behind Jesus, the Virgin is in a Greek grief pose. When she appears like this, the Virgin is called, La Dolorosa. The pressure on of the Cross on Jesus' body is a bit unnatural (like the wind). In any case, this painting deserves 5 star rating.
The next one is Christ Crowned with Thorns. His pose is just the same as resurrected Christ. The only difference is the head position and his colors. In any case, this one deserves 5 star rating.
The next one is Christ in the Sepulcher. If you notice, toward the far right you can see Christ carrying the cross. Toward the left, I noticed some swans by the river. Beyond the river, there is a church. Well, at the center is Christ. He is just getting out of a regular Italian tomb. By his right hand, there is a sacred palm. I think that's all to note on this painting. 5 stars. Lets move along.
The next one is the Mystic Crucifixion. At the foot of the cross is Mary Magdalene. She seems almost to be swept by the water or the earth. An angel before her is cutting a snake in half. Above her is Jesus. If you notice, by his left hand there is a sun with God ,the Father, inside it. God there shares room with the open Bible and the Holy Ghost's dove form. On the right, there is a strange rising black wind. Inside the wind, there are some Halberds (or spear axes). Raining from the left, I can see two falling white shields with a red cross. On the horizon, I see Rome and St. Peter's Basilica. This painting is meant to explain the mystery of the Crucifixion. With his death, Christ destroyed sin (this is shown by the angel cutting the snake in half). The veil between man and God was finally shattered (this is shown by the light of God parting the darkness). Mary Magdalene represents all the repentant sinners that look upon this painting. I think that is all worth mentioning. This lil painting deserves 5 star rating.
The next lil one is called Novella. This scene takes place inside the barn. Through a hole in the wall we see the cow and the Donkey. Mary worships Jesus, while Joseph is melancholic. Ah, he really does not know what do with the pair. He is concerned with earthly matters, while Jesus and Mary are concerned with spiritual manners. Remember, in the real roman world, it would be hard to explain Jesus. Jesus was always referred as the son of Mary. Well, behind Mary there is John the Baptist. He is the lil boy with the pelts and the red cape. He was kinda added there to the mix. In any case, this fresco deserves 5 star rating.
The next painting is called The Agony in the Garden. Here Jesus is asking to have the chalice be taken from him. The chalice being his death. Here the scene shows Jesus speaking with the angel of death. Bellow him, closer to the viewers we see the sleeping followers. This fence creates a visual divide between the heavenly and the mundane. The viewer is on the mundane side of the fence. Eh, it works pretty well. In any case, this painting of Botticelli deserves 5 star heaven.
The next painting is called The Flagellation. Well, you know, the guys beating Jesus wear contemporary Italian attires. One is so poor that his shoe is broken up. The other guy looks to be wearing fancier, pink clothing. Both the rich and the poor are beating up Jesus. Jesus is tied up in a Greek marble column. The source of light is well defined. Its a bit stylized. In any case, this painting deserves 5 star rating.
The next one is The Resurrection. Here Christ is coming out of the grave. Beside him, two Italian knights are sleeping, unaware of the rising Christ. This alludes to the incident at Gethsemane, were Christ followers slept through his Chalice crisis. In any case, this painting deserves 5 star rating.
The next one is called The Temptation of Christ (1482). In several scenes, the devil is showing Jesus all that he could have should he swear fealty to him. In the bottom, there is a healthy mix of people of Greek, and 15th century Italian origin. The architecture of the buildings looks from Renaissance times. Aw, I wanna hurry up a bit. Ok, 5 stars.
Well, here is the last painting featuring Jesus. This one is shows the Holy Trinity.On the right, I see John the Baptist. The other person with the wild hair, is Mary Magdalene after she took up an ascetic lifestyle. The two smaller figures are Tobias and the angel. The angel is giving him tips on exorcism demons via fishes. Well that is a story for another time. In the center, there is Jesus, the Holy Ghost dove and God, the father holding up the cross. To fill up the painting, Botticelli added a few cherubs. Those Cherubids always have made cute adorable fillers in a painting. I do not know much on the addition of the saints, and Tobias. It kinda felt as if they were added later. They are the only out of place figures in the Holy Trinity painting. In any case, this lil number deserves 5 star rating. I hope that you like my lil Botticelli blog. I have more boring art blogs planned for the future so stay tune. OK,hehehehe!!!
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