Discussion Question

Do believe that there is a afterlife? What is your ideal afterlife and what would it look like?

“Assumption of the Virgin”

This composition is “Assumption of the Virgin”, which is apart of Christian art. The composition is painted by Anton Kern. The painting demonstrates the Rococo style of painting and drawing, which Anton Kern was the master of. From 1724 till 1731 Anton lived in Venice and then in 1738 moved to Rome. When Anton kern studied his love for art, he studied with a man named Giovanni Battista Pittoni. Pittoni was “a Venetian painter and draftsman, who focused on religious, historical, and mythological subject matter.” Since studying with Pittoni, this could be why kern’s art work is about religious, historical and mythological subject matter.
The whole story behind “Assumption of the Virgin” has been dictated in many different ways. Many believe that Mary died in Jerusalem, then after “the apostles gathered around her tomb and opened it, but the tomb was found empty except for her burial shroud. As tradition holds, Mary had been physically lifted and carried to heaven.”
In my opinion I don’t think that the apostles carrying up the virgin Mary are really good because of color of the apostles, they have a dark tone to them. They have a dark tone under their clothes or robs and also their wings are very dark. I also get the feeling that man in the bottom left corner isn’t really good also. The choice of color of is rob, has the feeling of the presents of the devil. He also looks like the devil because of his long beard. I say this because most pictures of the devil depict him with a beard. The most emphasis is on the virgin Mary because it is the largest figure on the composition. Between the virgin Mary and then numbers of people around her tomb, both give a balance to the painting. The over all image of the “Assumption of the Virgin” is very strong in color and has the sense of the afterlife being good verses evil.
http://maa.missouri.edu/exhibits/finalfarewell/afterlife.html

"The Last Jugdment"

This painting is called “The Last Judgment” by Michelangelo. It can be found on the alter wall at the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, Italy. It took Michelangelo six years to finish the portrait. The painting is so big that It covers the entire wall behind the alter. In painting “the Last Judgment”, Michelangelo self portrait can actually be scene twice. It can be seen in the flayed skin that Saint Bartholomew is holding on to in his left hand. Also, it can be found in the left hand corner where one figure is looking up at the people rising from their graves.
In this image Michelangelo tries to interpret the difference between heaven and hell. In doing he then goes on to depict, “Christ the Judge, who compels the damned to the underworld with his left hand and lifts up the saved to heaven with his right.” Michelangelo put a great deal of emphasis on Christ because he is the one who decides where every will go in there afterlife. Christ is then balanced with the devil in the composition. The painting shows the devil at bottom or the underworld, taking people down with him. Then you have Christ who is rejecting people, but is also sending people above or heaven. The composition is also balanced in color. Michelangelo show dark color near the bottom where the devil is and turns above and show bright, peaceful colors near Christ and heaven. http://www.sacred-destinations.com/italy/vatican-sistine-chapel.htm