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.