The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne by Da Vinci and the Virgin by Roger van der Weyden - Term Paper Example

?Compare and contrast these two works, visually and in content, and discuss significant influences on the artists painting styles The Renaissance, which originated in Italy, transformed the cultural context of Europe in general. Within this scenario, Italian Renaissance and Northern Renaissance are important because Italian Renaissance is symbolic of the origin of Renaissance and Northern Renaissance is symbolic of the rapid spread of Renaissance spirit to other parts of Europe. As a cultural movement, Renaissance transformed the contexts of art and architecture. Within this context, Leonardo da Vinci’s contributions to Italian Renaissance and Roger van der Weyden’s contributions to Northern Renaissance are noteworthy. Thesis statement: The compare and contrast study of the works The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne by Leonardo da Vinci and St. Luke Drawing the Virgin by Roger van der Weyden prove that Leonardo da Vinci’s work is symbolic of the origin of Renaissance art and Roger van der Weyden’s work is symbolic of the growth and development of art. In this essay, the subject under discussion is divided into two: compare and contrast study (visual effect, content) and discussion (significant influences on the artists’ painting styles). A. Compare and contrast study: One can easily identify that the work The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne is visually rich because the same deals with life. Joanne Mattern pointed out that, “The painting depicts the Virgin Mary, the baby Jesus, and Saint Anne” (20). The work is visually attractive because the same is interconnected with the events that can be seen in daily life. Comparing with Leonardo da Vinci’s work, the visual effect of the work St. Luke Drawing the Virgin by Roger van der Weyden is not much attractive, but the same deals with a Biblical theme. For instance, St. Luke’s presence in the painting is symbolic of religious significance, not motherly love. But in the painting The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne, St. Anne enjoys her grandchild’s playful attitude. Besides, Virgin Mary is trying to hinder infant Jesus from playing with the lamb. Leonardo da Vinci provided ample importance to motherly love (intimate relationship between St. Anne and the Virgin Mary) and childhood innocence (infant Jesus and the lamb). On the other side, Roger van der Weyden selected religious iconography as the theme of his work and it influenced the visual effect of the same. Fred S. Kleiner stated that, “The panel depicts the patron saint of painters drawing the Virgin Mary using a silver point (a sharp stylus that creates a fine line)” (406). In the painting St. Luke Drawing the Virgin, both St. Anne and the Virgin Mary symbolize motherly love and affection toward humanity in general. In Leonardo da Vinci’s work, infant Jesus’ attitude towards the lamb is symbolic of the hardships to be suffered by him in future. So, Leonardo da Vinci’s work’s content is interconnected with the Holy Bible. Similar to Leonardo da Vinci’s work, Roger van der Weyden made use of Christianity as the theme, but he altered the content to a different level. For instance, Saint Luke’s presence in the work is symbolic of artistic creativity. On the other side, Virgin Mary and infant Jesus are symbolic of Christian faith. So, one can easily identify that Roger van der Weyden’s work is an amalgamation of artistic creativity and Christian faith. B. Discussion: Leonardo da Vinci’s painting style is deeply influenced by his master Verrocchio. At the same time, his interest in sculpture and architecture influenced his painting style. Besides, his paintings are symbolic of the relationship between human beings and Mother Nature. Frank Zollner stated that, “Besides studies of the models usually found in artist’s workshops, Leonardo also made equally important studies from nature” (8). For instance, Leonardo da Vinci made use of the background of his works to portray nature. At the same time, the influence of science can be seen in his artworks. His works are technically perfect and this proves that the technical side of painting deeply influenced him. The depth that can be seen in his works is indebted to the usage of midrange colors. Besides, Leonardo da Vinci made use of light and shadow as an innovative technique. In short, the significant influences that can be seen in Leonardo da Vinci’s painting style are indebted to his experimentation with colors, his attempt to attain technical perfection, and his master’s influence. On the other side, Weyden was deeply influenced by Christian art. Kathleen Kuiper made clear that, “Jan van Eyck, the great painter from Bruges, also profoundly affected the developing artist, introducing elegance and subtle visual refinements into the bolder, Campinesque components such early paintings by van der Weyden as St. Luke painting The Virgin” (49). One can easily identify this influence in his work St. Luke Drawing the Virgin. Besides, he made use of themes related to Christianity to express his artistic creativity. From a different angle of view, his interest in the facial features of his models provided dynamism to his works. He was aware of the fact that expressiveness can bring forth richness to his works. Gradually, his works gained popularity in other parts of Europe and this can be considered as the growth and development of Northern Renaissance. His artistic creativity deeply influenced other European artists like Hans Memling Martin Schongauer. So, one can see that Leonardo da Vinci influenced Italian Renaissance and Roger van der Weyden influenced Northern Renaissance. Summing, Italian Renaissance and Northern Renaissance revolutionized the cultural context of Europe. One can easily identify the fact that Renaissance helped the artists to unleash their creativity to different levels of experimentation. Within the context of art in Europe, Leonardo da Vinci and Roger van der Weyden are the torchbearers of Renaissance spirit. Leonardo da Vinci’s works are remarkable for matchless visual effect and technical perfection. On the other side, Roger van der Weyden’s works are remarkable for the Biblical content and thematic importance. Both the artists deeply influenced their followers, especially the other artists in Europe. Leonardo da Vinci’s interest was not limited to the context of art, but extends to other fields like architecture and science. But Roger van der Weyden’s life was dedicated to religious triptychs, especially Christian art. In short, the contributions by both the artists deeply influenced the origin, growth and development of Renaissance in Europe. Works Cited Kleiner, Fred S. Gardner's Art Through the Ages: The Western Perspective, Volume 2. Boston: Cengage Learning, 2009. Print. Kuiper, Kathleen. The 100 Most Influential Painters & Sculptors of the Renaissance. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, 2009. Print. Mattern, Joanne. Leonardo Da Vinci. Minnesota: ABDO, 2005. Print. Zollner, Frank. Leonardo Da Vinci, 1452-1519. Germany: Taschen, 2000. Print. Read More