Art History Comparison - Report Example

San Marco Francesco Guardi Francesco Guardi was a Venetian painter and was born in Venice in to a lesser noble family in the year 1712. His father along with brothers all were painters. He and his brothers had a school of Venetian painting. The first work of Guardi was Saint Adoring the Eucarist for parish at Vigo d Anuaina. His works had the representation of figures and landscapes. His paintings are influenced by Canaletto and Carlevarjis. The most important works of Guardi are Doge’s feast in 1763. In 1782, Guardi was commissioned by Venetian government with many canvases to celebrate the Russian Archdukes. Guardi had a distinctive painting style with dotting and spirited brush strokes. Guardi died in the year 1793 in Venice. San Marco is one of the famous paintings of Francesca Guardi and is one of his earliest works. The painting shows the famous Venetian square, the piazza San Marco, the medieval cathedral and its bell tower. In this painting, the architecture and figures are freely handled. The Piazza San Marco is shown from the West. Guardi has used bright light and strong shadow to animate the scene and populated with variety of figures painted with few brush strokes. It is an oil painting on canvas and small figures are depicted all over the painting. The color scheme of the painting is dominated by a golden sunlight and sky’s blue and white hues, which gives the picture a warm brightness. The painting has a free brush work and brushstrokes with thickness. Canaletto Canaletto was an Italian painter born in 1697 and his real name was Giovanni Antonio Canal. He is a painter of landscapes or vedute. He was also known for etching. He was born in Venice to a painter father. Canaletto did his apprenticeship with his father and brother. Canaletto began is painting career as a theatrical scene painter. Canaletto was inspired by the art of Giovanni Panini and started painting the city and people of Venice. In 1719, he started painting in topographic style. His first dated work is Architectural Capriccio. Most of the Canaletto’s work is influenced by nature. His paintings are known for accuracy and he painted as blobs of colors to obscure objects. He painted canals of Venice and Doge’s palace in coveted manner. The San Marco by Canaletto show cases the piazza from a high view point. This canvas portrays all the characteristics of Canaletto style which gives the precision to the buildings with ornamental details. The painting has numerous elements that create the overall atmosphere of the painting. The painting depicts a woman leaning out of a window and a man cleaning chimneys and also boat. The artist have finely depicted the tone of the water whose greenish tint contrast with the blue hue of the large sky. The powerful vertical lines of the campanile are which fastens and secures the composition on to the upper edge of the canvas. He also manipulates the shadow in order to achieve a sense of depth in his composition. Comparison of paintings The view of San Marco by Guardi is presented on a wider canvas to give the San Marco a broader dimension. There are two backdrops to the view, the north corner of Basilica and the edge of the Bell Tower. The painting depicts the entire west side of the Piazza and also the ancient church of San Geminiano. Canaletto depicted the fewer arcades and windows in the paining from a smaller angle. The painter has shifted the two flag poles have been moved to the middle of the piazza and spaced out. Canaletto has given a peep whole view of the Piazza San Marco. According to ( Suruchi,2012)“Typical of Canaletto’s style a higher vantage point is used to mark the view. The precision and accuracy of the monuments in the landscape are remarkable with an almost photographic finish; testimony to Canaletto’s genius”. The San Marco by Guardi presents a theatrical expression of the monument and the sky contributes to the painting a sense of foreboding. The painting gives a sea scape in the sky and one can sense claustrophobia in his work. His painting is freer and atmospheric. The canvas has a surprisingly atmospheric effect as he creates a fantastical space and theatrical feel which is full of contrasts suggesting that everything is alive and immediate. The painting has a lively atmosphere and is graceful and romantic. This painting showcases the everyday atmosphere of the Piazza San Marco. The painting of Canaletto presents an unconventional scene with modest figuration. As per (Freudenhem,2011) “Canalettos dramatic, even somber, "The Piazza San Marco, looking East" (1723). And yet even in his early—and faintly dour—works, Canaletto gives us views that are more sensuous and appealing than those of his rivals”. The painting is atmospheric and the inhabitants of the city are portrayed in an interesting way. It has a microscopic detailing and the stance and costume of people are portrayed with a shimmering vitality. The people are exhibited individually rather than groups presented by Guardi’s painting. The Canaletto has painted mysterious women, children, dog, wigged officials and travelers in his work. Moreover his composition has vertical, diagonal and horizontal lines and color he used is bright. His figures and architectures are flooded with light. In Canaletto, the figures are dotted liberally throughout the space given. In the Guardi painting, the leap can be seen from close up to distant which is rather new. In Guardi painting, one can feel that the painter is part of the scene himself and people moving around him. However, Canaletto seems to look at the picture rather than stand in the picture. Canaletto is a theatrical painter while Guardi place himself on the stage while painting. According to ( Andreae,1982) “Canaletto’s paintings can be enjoyed in their components. They stand up admirably to such microscopic delight. They are sightseeing turned into art. They are the most painstaking and precise of holiday mementoes, the originals of a notion that later degenerated into the common post card”. In the painting of Guardi the people are shown communicating with each other in groups and there is no individuals shown alone. The people are shown in light and in shade. There are people wearing bright and light colored costume and their faces are in mystery. The women and men decorate the painting of Gaurdi and it shows a bustling part of Piazza San Marco. The painting has a bashing crowd and there are dogs at the men’s heels. In his painting the environment is stronger and the people seem to be busy and moving. However, the visual effects of Canatello painting are manipulative and people are scattered in his painting. In the canatello painting the people are carrying on their daily mundane activities in the back drop of Piazza main square. The precision and accuracy of the monuments in the landscape is exquisite and the towering clock tower is the central back ground of the work. The blue grey sky which is messy watches over the canvas. The painting gives a bustling three dimension picture of the city. The earthy brown color gives a naturalistic depth and style to the work.Dramatic lighting illuminates the painting from multiple sources. The painting is a geometric decorative pattern. Spaciousness and calmness is part of his painting of San Marco. The painter created two vanishing points the first looking straight to the Piazza the other far end of the piazza at right. So the both paintings has its own value and style to it as the painters of the work Work Cited Andreae, Christopher. "An onstage view ." http://www.csmonitor.com. Christian Science Monitor, 1982. Web. 5 Jan. 2014. Read More