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General Discussion of Form of Painting as Fine Art

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General Discussion of Form of Painting as Fine Art

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Painting, according to Gilson as discussed in class, is reduced to its essentials; a picture that is a solid surface which the artists cover with colored forms whose arrangement is pleasing to the eye through the unity of form, the harmony of the parts, and the perfection of the execution. In the simplest definition, a painting is a two-dimensional surface that is lacking in actual depth; but through its form and elements put together by artists, create a beauty. This, of course, is essential in talking about painting as a Fine Art because of the special vocation of artists on creating beauty.

The elements and corresponding principles applied in painting are: line, and emphasis and subordination; color and balance; texture, and scale and proportion; space and rhythm; value and harmony; and shape and contrast. With the utilization and integration of these elements and principles, the visual form is honed into a beautiful painting, which is both admirable and enjoyable. More than that, artists are able to add meaning to the beauty that they have created, further strengthening their vocation towards beauty and as well as other things in life, and ultimately their vocation towards creating beauty for God. Considering this, the form of painting should be for beauty always. After all, that is what Fine Arts is all about.

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Title: Canigiani Holy Family
Artist: Raphael
Created: 1508
Period/Style: (Italian High) Renaissance

The Canigiani Holy Family painting by Raphael, painted with oil on wood in 1508, is an Italian High Renaissance painting, showcasing Joseph, Elizabeth with Baby John the Baptist, and the Virgin Mary with the infant Jesus Christ. The painting was restored by Hubert Von Sonnenburg in 1982 and is currently located in the Alte Pinakothek of Munich, Germany (TotallyHistory, n.d.).

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Interpretation of the Form of Canigiani Holy Family

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Interpretation of the Form of Canigiani Holy Family

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Pyramidal Composition and Lines

The subject of the painting — Joseph, Elizabeth with the child John the Baptist, and Virgin Mary with child Jesus — follows the pyramidal composition, implying balance and structure. This suggests that Raphael was inspired by Leonardo Da Vinci's pyramidal style. The pyramidal composition, besides establishing balance and structure to the painting alone, is associated with the group of the Canigiani Holy Family, consisting of Joseph, Elizabeth, John the Baptist, Virgin Mary, and Jesus Christ. The structure and balance, through this composition, implies that the Holy Family is one steady and strong family, especially since all of them are gifted by God or divine (saints, etc.). The position of Joseph, at the top of the pyramidal composition, shows the "importance of Joseph as the adoptive father of Jesus" (TotallyHistory, n.d.) and as the father figure of the family.

In following the pyramidal composition, implied lines are important and these can be seen among the lines that form the silhouettes and figures — e.g. back of Elizabeth, arms of Joseph and Mary, head of Joseph, legs of the ladies. Among the figures in the painting, gazes were exchanged, signifying implied lines that help viewers direct their focus on different areas of the painting. More importantly, through the implied lines, the gazes or glances exchanged with each other put emphasis on the relationships between the figures with the serene feelings that they communicate (Raphael Paintings and Biography, 2011). It is important to note that all of them are looking at another. To elaborate, baby John the Baptist and baby Jesus exchanges glances, signifying their relationship; they are relatives and Saint John (the Baptist) was the one who baptized Jesus Christ (Pennington, 2019). Elizabeth and Joseph also exchange glances with each other, putting emphasis that they are both gifted by God and blessed to be saints; Elizabeth was an old woman, but was blessed by God to bear a child, John the Baptist, (Guideposts, 2017) and Joseph was blessed to be the adoptive father of Jesus (TotallyHistory, n.d.). Lastly, the Virgin Mary gazes upon the children or babies, emphasizing the motherhood of the Virgin Mary to Jesus Christ and the whole Church (Pelikan, n.d.).

In addition, the angels set on the clouds suggest a division among the ones on earth — humans — and the divine ones in Heaven. Moreover, the division of the group of angels is further separated and placed on each of the upper corners, the left, and the right, implying symmetry and harmony in the painting.

These angels above also exchange glances with each other, further implying that they, just like the Holy Family, also have relationships with each other. And, the fact that they are positioned above the Holy Family shows that as if they are looking over them.

Space

The element of space was not neglected in the painting. Linear space is present, which can be more explicitly seen by observing the background. This adds depth and perspective in the painting since the background is composed of elements such as mountains, trees, and buildings that vary in size and suggests an illusion of different layers.

Color and Value

The use of colors also contributes to the balance and harmony of the painting. The distribution of the color blue, specifically, in different values create harmony all throughout the painting; the color blue is present in the sky in the background, the figure of Elizabeth and of the Virgin Mary — the sky positioned on the upper section and the figures positioned on the lower section on both left and right. This, again, mimics the pyramidal composition of the subject, further contributing to the principle of balance. Green and yellow are also distributed in different values in the painting, providing harmony. To add, yellow, green, and blue used are analogous colors that are then easy for the eyes to absorb. However, the use of the red on the Virgin Mary's garment provides contrast to the other colors, especially green.

The color blue is very prevalent in the painting and it is distributed in different values. However, the blue present in the cloak of the Virgin Mary is in a very prominent value. This prominence of the brighter blue makes it easy for the viewers to identify the Virgin Mary in the painting. Moreover, the blue present in Elizabeth and in Mary puts emphasis that they are similar as they are both mothers. The color red, present in the garment of Mary, and the green in Joseph's are contrasting to each other, which can also mean emphasize on the contrasting role of a father and a mother figure, but the values of yellow present in the clothes of Mary and Joseph connect them as one, just like how a loving couple is.

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In summary, the Canigiani Holy Family by Raphael is an Italian High Renaissance painting, focusing on the religion of Christianity. With the subjects shown in the painting, viewers are able to learn and contemplate upon certain figures and beliefs in the Catholic faith. Through Raphael's composition of the painting's form, this is done so in an in-depth and beautiful way, making use of art to share doctrines and religions to others.

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Guideposts (2017). Elizabeth: Mother of John the Baptist. (Online). Available at
https://www.guideposts.org/faith-and-prayer/bible-resources/women-of-the-
bible/elizabeth-mother-of-john-the-baptist (Accessed: 3 November 2019).

Pelikan, J. (n.d.) Mary Mother of Jesus, Encyclopedia Britannica. (Online).
Available at https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mary-mother-of-Jesus
(Accessed: 3 November 2019).

Pennington, J. (2019). ‘Why does Jesus need to be baptized?’, The Gospel
Coalition, 8 May. (Online). Available at
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/jesus-need-baptized/ (Accessed:
3 November 2019).

Raphael Paintings and Biography (2011). Canigiani Holy Family - by Raphael.
(Online). Available at https://www.raphaelpaintings.org/canigiani-holy-
family.jsp (Accessed: 3 November 2019).

TotallyHistory (n.d.) Canigiani Holy Family - Facts about the Painting. (Online).
Available at http://totallyhistory.com/canigiani-holy-family/ (Accessed: 3
November 2019).