Saint Jerome and Saint Andrew by Jacopo Robusti Tintoretto - Essay Example

Task The of the piece of art I observed is Saint Jerome and Saint Andrew: ca 1552. The of the artist who painted it is Jacopo Robusti Tintoretto. Its measurements are 12 by 16 inches. The medium used for this piece of art is oil on wood. The subject matter of this piece of art is spirituality as it is the case with most ancient art works based on saints. Jacopo Robusti Tintoretto is a reputable artist who effectively makes use of iconography techniques to express emotions in the context of Christian art. The image composition has an orderly figural rhythm within the whole piece of art. Saint Andrew’s figure occupies the entirely limited space to the left of the cross, leaving a lot of spacious room for Saint Jerome who is alongside the curvilinear draw round of the rock. The pattern gives rise to a scenic effect of the images confined in one place; in such a small space hence unity and poetic sense that amounts to intense spiritual life. The effective force of light that brings out color gradations portrays this (Darwin Porter & Danforth 144). The design elements of this piece of art are arranged comprehensively in an artistic manner. The shape is strong sculptural with complex use of chiaroscuro alongside spatial representation. A style that was common in the 16th century in which the artist, Jacopo Robusti Tintoretto was a key player. The art piece, Saint Jerome and Andrew: ca 1552 uses synchronically clear, bright colors that are in undeviating contrast to the subdued harmonies of magica alchimia cromatica. In fact, this is a fundamental technique of art in the 16th century in which the Saint Jerome and Saint Andrew serves the most quintessential impression of the tendencies of that time. The use of perceptive line force of line blends with rich and relatively luminous color to form the firmly modeled figures. The dramatic style is a pretext that developed continually as both Tintoretto defined art through his pieces of paintings (Darwin Porter & Danforth 184). The cultural history of this piece of art dates back to the period of Carthusian monastery a time during which the catholic defended their faith against Protestants. During this historical period, several ways were channels of popularizing Christianity among the pagans of Rome. For instance, early cults that were in existence compelled the Romans to be considerate of Christianity presented to them. The Roman led persecutions of Christians and Jews lead to an unintended consequence of bringing into being many and a highly regarded list of martyrs and Saints. Christianity had already developed rooted and recognized as a word written religion. The Jews gave an oral history of its books of the Old Testament hence a milestone in the writing of the Bible. The success of this development is attributed to the relationship between the church and classical culture. Therefore, the Christian literature of the 4th century had its basis from the interpretation and commentary of the Old and New Testament. Christianity played the role of synthesizing the Greco-Roman and Hebrew intellectuals. Christianity took the Old Testament as the Word of God and dissolved the Hebrew monotheism. Christianity underwent evolution that involved adoption of a wide range of elements of Greek nature. Thus, Christianity managed to draw more people to Christianity. Through the use of language techniques and the Greek philosophy, intellect Christians and theologians transformed Christianity from a simple ethical creed into an absolute theoretical system. The transformation was done by incorporation of Roman Stoicism into Christianity. Early Church Fathers become theologians among them Saint Jerome. The greatest input by Saint Jerome was the translation of both the Old and the New Testament into Latin an achieved he made around 400. In fact, this was ten years after the declaration of Christianity as the state religion by Theodosius (Darwin Porter & Danforth 204). The account of Saint Jerome life is such a fascinating biography. Saint Jerome has been a universal subject to several painters since ancient times up to date. Most paintings are approximately dated back to the fifteenth century. Saint Jerome’s full names are Eusibius Hieronymus Sophronius. He lived between 342 to 420 AD. Saint Jerome was born in Dalmatia, in the town of Stridon, precisely at the boundary separating Pannonia (Hungary) and Dalmatia. Saint Jerome studied comprehensively in Rome and was baptized around 366AD. He shifted to Palestine and settled in Antioch in 374ad. He suffered a terrible illness in Antioch and had a dream. The dream involved condemnation by God for not being Christian enough and excessive Roman rhetoric. This led Jerome to become a hermit in the desert rocks for five years in Syria. Afterwards, he left the rocky desert and got ordained as a priest. However, he studied further in Constantinople and made several Greek translations in Latin. He went back to Rome and became the secretary of pope Damasus in an era during which Pontificate Emperor Theodosius declared Christianity the state religion of the Roman state. Damasus forcefully resisted rebellions in the Christian church. In addition, he opposed the Donatists of Northern Africa as well as other schisms. Pope Jerome directed Jerome to review the Latin version of the Bible into a single volume. Given his knowledge of Hebrew during his experience as a hermit, Jerome did revisit the indigenous Hebrew texts. This translated version of the Bible in Greek is referred to as Vulgate and is the reference of the Roman Catholicism Bible. Jerome made Rome his residence for three consecutive years. He departed Rome for Bethlehem alongside a group of women who were leading a convent life in Rome. They made strategic pilgrimages to Palestine and Egypt. The nuns founded a convent together with Paula and her daughter. On the other hand, Jerome founded a monastery and remained in Bethlehem. He continued studying, writing and commenting on the lives of Saints among them Saint Malchus and Saint Paul the Hermit. The Demise of Jerome demise occurred in Bethlehem. Saint Jerome was popular known for his sarcastic, rhetoric character and refusal of compromise on the subjects of the bible (Darwin Porter & Danforth 304). Saint Jerome is an outstanding being the most learned among the Latin Fathers and for his service in various positions ranging from monastic, ascetical, biblical and theological. Hence, this piece of art featuring him and Saint Andrew is of great significance in the history of Christianity. It takes as back to the Bible translation era and most important the Latin translation of Bible. The style involved has great religious sensibility precluded from Saint Jerome’s church work in those years. This painting has successfully featured religion in the disciplinary years. It is quite understandable with the impression of spirituality in a Christianity context. Saint Jerome dedicated his life leaving everything else behind except Christ and Wisdom. The use rough brushwork is the simplicity of faith of the people who were yet to comprehend and accept Christianity (Darwin Porter & Danforth 404). Work Cited Darwin Porter & Danforth Prince Frommer’s Italy 2007 New York, Frommer’ (2006) ISBN Print 1 Read More