Nicholas Poussin

Self Portrait 
Nicholas Poussin
Paris
1650
 
  Born in 1594, Nicholas Poussin became one of the most popular French artists who spent nearly his entire life working in Rome. Many have considered Poussin to be one of the founders of French classical baroque arts. Poussin's work has been known for the amount of depth and strong use of color that he depicts that demonstrates a deeper narrative and complexity. In addition, he further depicts a series of landscapes and perspectives on his work. In connection, Naomi Joy Barker in her article " 'Diverse Passions': Mode, Interval and Affect in Poussin's Paintings" dives further on the complexity of Poussin's works in terms of landscaping and color to break down the connection with classical style; " Poussin of all artists perhaps most encapsulates the theories of his time, and in his paintings, we can trace influences not just of theories of art and music" ( Barker 19 )

The Abduction of the Sabine Women
Nicholas Poussin
1633
    In the article " 'Diverse Passions': Mode, Interval and Affect in Poussin's Paintings", it mentions how Poussin's work is inspired by Giovanni Battista Doni's music. Specifically, the concepts are ideas that are suggested by Doni's dramatic music as they recall. In Poussin's art, he emulates a classical concept of mode and affects to give a dramatic representation; " the truthful representation of narrative and dramatic action and emotion is as central to Poussin's painting as it is to Doni's theories." ( Barker 19 ) However, in Chapter 15, we are not given this detail that Poussin's work is inspired by Doni. In Chapter 15, we are only given details on his famous pieces of work and their complex composition and colors. " Poussin's style changed. The poetry of his earlier work was replaced by a grandeur that sometimes verges on stiffness." ( Cunningham 366) Given the detail that the work has progressively changed, chapter 15 left the detail of Giovanni Battista Doni being a part of Poussin's ideas and inspiration.

Watch video on one of Poussin's greatest piece The Abduction of the Sabine Women

    I choose  " 'Diverse Passions': Mode, Interval and Affect in Poussin's Paintings" by Barker because it really focuses on the use of linear perspective and the different colors and value that Poussin uses in his works. I felt this was an important piece, especially understanding why was Poussin so important and what effect he had on making his pieces so important. Barker notes Poussin's quote," The idea of beauty does not descend into matter unless it has been prepared as much as possible;... the order concerns  the interval of the part, the mode relates to the quantity, the form has to do with lines and colors." ( Barker 5)  This seemed very significant especially through the words of Poussin which gives a deeper insight into why Poussin's work is the way it is. In addition, throughout the article, it gives an actual note or letter written by Poussin which gives a clearer perspective of his work and inspiration. 

Work Cited

Barker, Naomi Joy. “‘Diverse Passions’: Mode, Interval and Affect in Poussin’s Paintings.” Music in Art, vol. 25, no. 1/2, Research Center for Music Iconography, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, 2000, pp. 5–24, http://www.jstor.org/stable/41818356.

Metmuseum.org. (n.d.). Retrieved December 1, 2021, from https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/437329.

Self-portrait by Poussin, Nicolas. (n.d.). Retrieved December 1, 2021, from https://www.wga.hu/html_m/p/poussin/4/04selfpo.html. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

William Shakespeare's Hamlet

Image
Hamlet William Shakespeare 1603 " To be, or not to be; that is the question:" ( Act III, Scene 1, Line 56) becomes one of the most, well-known soliloquies in  Hamlet  was written by William Shakespeare. In this particular act, Hamlet who is the main character of the story, speaks loudly on his thoughts, yet is being betrayed by his significant other, Ophelia (she's listening to his speech). Throughout the play, Shakespeare creates a narrative that depicts death, betrayal, and revenge. The play all begins with the story of Hamlet who finds out that his father, the Old King, was murdered by his uncle Claudius through a ghost with the spirit of his father. Hamlet begins to seek out revenge on his uncle Claudius even though his uncle has taken the throne as the new King and is in marriage with Hamlet's mother. That's where the story has begun to play out. Shakespeare uses many themes throughout the play such as a threat to security, authority out of order, the questio...
Read more

Humanities: Queen Elizabeth I

Image
 Who is Queen Elizabeth I? Rainbow Portrait Unknown 1600 Hatfield House      Queen Elizabeth I was the firstborn daughter of Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn, in September 1533.  Being third in line for the throne, Queen Elizabeth I succeeded in throne in the year 1558 after the death of her sister, Queen Mary. Throughout her years as a Queen, she was known as the "Virgin Queen" as she was not married nor had any kids. There isn't any specific speculation if she was loved or hated by the people. My first guess for why is she loved by the people is that during her reign, the voyage of the west emerged, and arts have begun to flourish. A reason why she may be hated by the people is that she left England in a war debt leading to economic depression. Her death is also unclear. There are many theories that her death in March 1603 was caused by poisoning, cancer, etc.      The JSTOR article that I chose based on Queen Elizabeth I is written b...
Read more

Albrecht Dürer on Humanism

Image
 Who is Albrecht Dürer? Self Portrait Albrecht Durer 1500 Albrecht Dürer, an artist of paint and print, in the northern Renaissance who is famously known for work in details of human bodies. Born in Nuremberg, Germany, Durer's earliest education in art started from his father's work in wood engraving. Durer later in his early life visited Venice, Italy which is where he first encountered " linear perspective ". From here and on, Durer " adopted Renaissance humanism's concept of the artist as an inspired genius, creating a unique personal world."  ( Cunningham 336 )  The Work in Germany and Italy Though Albrecht Durer's works were influenced by the contemporaries of the Renaissance in Italy,  Durer had his own unique skill that transpire from his origins in Germany. " Durer's vision was enriched but not profoundly changed by his two journeys to Italy. Yet Durer did not just copy his strong, Southern impressions, but translated them boldly int...
Read more