Iona's Art Blog

 Romantic Era Exhibition 1) Impressionism Art The Poppy Field near Argenteuil, Claude Monet History and Artist's Intentions The Poppy Field near Argenteuil  by impressionist artist, Claude Monet, was painted in 1873 in France. Monet painted this potrait after a trip from the United Kingdom. In this era of his life, painting was the ultimate comfort and fulfillment for Monet when his wife, Camille Doncieux's health was declining. Doncieux was the subject of many of Monet's paintings; she was seen as his muse and inspiration. This painting depicts a mother and her young son walking through a field of poppies (theoretically, Doncieux and their young son, Jean) on a clear day. Monet simply found satisfaction and solace in composing this piece.  Aesthetic Reactions One of the main elements in this painting is the typical subject matter ; it encapsulates a pleasant event between a mother and her child, as well as an eyecatching landscape. This painting also includes blended col...

 Classical Blog Exhibit  Morality and The Art of the Classical Era 1. The Death of Seneca , Jacques Louis David History and Connections The Death of Seneca was painted in 1773 by artist, Jacques Louis David in Paris, France. David was encouraged by the Royal Academy to paint this portrait in competition with the prize being a trip to Italy. This painting depicts Seneca the Younger, a famous Roman statesman and writer who was being taken away from his wife and family after being charged with conspiracy to kill an emperor. The connection to influence in this piece is the fate of an individual being decided by Rome's government; it was not revealed whether Seneca did participate in the conspiracy to kill Emperor Nero, however, the chance ultimately ended in his death sentence. In today's age, this is still applicable since there still are individuals who are wrongly accused of a criminal act, then are faced with the death penalty. Morality is questioned among those who determine...

 The Surrender of Breda, 1635 Diego Velasquez History of The Surrender of Breda      The Surrender of Breda painted by Diego Velasquez in 1635 is connected to the Thirty Years' War. Velasquez was appointed to complete this painting by King Philip IV of Spain to commemorate General Ambrosia Spinola, who lead the Spaniard army to triumph against the Dutch forces. At the time, Velasquez was seen as the most prestigious painter in Spain. This painting depicts Frederick Henry surrendering the keys to Spain. Spinola's conquest was a significant military accomplishment and considered an emblem of Spanish nationalism. Unfortunately, Breda was recaptured after four months by Frederick Henry and was ceded to the Dutch Republic in 1648.  Art Elements and Opinions     This painting includes several elements of the Baroque era art style, including aerial perspective, realistic proportions, and light. I noticed that the colors towards the top of the painting it is...