Answer

Art has been very imperative in shaping the interactions amongst various aspects of human life, ranging from politics to other institutions like religion. In the ancient times before civilization, art was the most imperative medium for communication human feelings and the societal mood at any given particular moment in time (Winner, 2019). Importantly, religion relied a lot in arts to pass messages to the masses, with the catholic church using some of the most notable artists of the ancient time to advance their agenda during the conflict between the protestants and the Roman Catholic church. The most common types of art included paintings, drawings, poetry among others that most artists used to highlight various issues in the society. It was also through art that some of the most talented artists fought injustice in the society especially the discrimination against women (Curry, 2020). In light of the above, this analysis is going to evaluate four most notable works of arts, which include Jan Vermeer, Woman Holding a Balance, Caravaggio, The Calling of St. Matthew, Francisco De Goya, The Third of May and Peter Paul Rubens, Marie De Medici, Queen of France, Landing in Marseilles.

Jan Vermeer, Woman Holding a Balance

             Alternatively referred to as the woman testing the balance, the woman holding a balance is an ancient painting by renowned golden age painter of Dutch extraction called the Jan Vermeer. Accordingly, the painting is preserved at the Washington DC, in the United States of America. Most art scholars have had different opinions concerning the symbolism behind the painting, with most of them opining that the woman symbolizes holiness while others believe it symbolizes earthliness (Mackay, 2020). Completed between 1662-1663, the painting has attracted so much controversy and even interpretation with others even believing she was carrying gold, and not a balance. Jan made the painting of the woman, who appears to be pregnant and standing before a table with a jewelry box. The interpretation that strikes the mind when viewing the painting is that of divine truth or justice. It serves as a religious meditative aid to rally the people into leading a balanced life. Other scholars have made some frantic attempts to compare the painted woman to Mary, while others suggest she is weighing her valuables and comparing the worldly life to that of heaven (Mackay, 2020). Whereas it is not easy to have a final determination of the symbolism expressed in the painting, one thing that is sure is that it has certain religious connotations.

            The painting was completed either in 1662 or 1663 and was referred to as the woman weighing Gold before it became apparent that the balance in her hand was actually empty. Among the estate of Jam that were sold in 1696 was the painting. Accordingly, there are several materials used in the painting of the woman, some of which include ultramarine that was imperative and critical in the painting of the blue tablecloth (Mackay, 2020). Investigations by certain art historians particularly Robert Feller indicate that the painting was extended by about five centimeters on both sides at some later dates. They aver that it became much bigger than the original painting due such advancements in its size. The painting must have been inspired or influenced by Saint Ignatius. According to Ignatius, the faithful should first weigh their conscience before meditating like if they were facing the judgement day (Mackay 2020). This teaching must have influenced Jan to make the painting because the woman holding a balance seems to be urging people in the society to weigh their conscience before making any judgement against others, and to proceed with moderation. 

             The woman is conflicted between the worldly treasures and the everlasting consequences of her actions or inactions. The message comes out clearly in the painting considering that the hand bearing the balance is cast to the dark corner while the other one with the scales is against the wall. Today, Vermeer is one of the most celebrated artists across the world despite having died so many years ago. Vermeer was born in the city of Delft where he also died having spent most of his time working on his arts. There are no historical records pointing to his training on arts or apprenticeship (Mackay, 2020). However, history only records that in 1653, Vermeer registered himself with the St. Luke`s Guild where he learnt how to paint and other artistic activities. It was in the year 1653 that he married a catholic Catharina Bolnes whose mother had a lot of influence on the life of the couple. History postulates that it might have been the influence of his wife`s mother that led Vermeer to convert to catholic from protestant churches. He had dreamt and was ambitious of becoming a history painter, but that changed in the 1650 when he started showing interest in paintings that would last for eternity (Mackey 2020). Vermeer would later struggle economically, trying to raise eleven children during the economic downturn that had been caused by the invasion of Netherlands by France. Vermeer died at 43, leading to her wife being declared bankrupt and his property actioned. 

The Calling of St. Matthew

          The Calling of St. Matthew is a masterclass piece of work done by the renowned artist Michelangelo Caravaggio do highlight and portray the moment when Jesus called Mathew to follow him in the work of the ministry of God. The work was completed between 1599 to 1600 in a church in Italy. Today, it hangs in particular church called  San Luigi dei Francesi in Italy but with largely French congregants (Fish, 2021). Beside the painting are other paintings of Mathew by the same artist Caravaggio. The painting highlights a certain story in the bible where Jesus called Mathew to follow him and help in the conversion of men to Christ. Particularly, Mathew 9:9 is where Caravaggio obtained the idea to make the painting and it states, “Jesus saw a man named Mathew at his seat in the custom house, and said to him, “Follow me”, and Matthew rose and followed Him” in the painting, Caravaggio draws Mathew and portrays him as a tax collector sitting in a particular table with other four men. The picture also indicates that Jesus entered the room together with Simon Peter, the illuminated some light on the face on all the men who were sitting around the table (Fish, 2021). It is therefore arguable that it was the story in Mathew that inspired Caravaggio to come up with the painting to help in spreading the gospel. The piece of art had so much of religious undertones and serves to preach to the society the need to follow Christ, hence fostering the argument that ancient art had a lot of religious underpinnings behind them.

                However, there has been lots of debate concerning the exact identity of Mathew in the picture because the surprised man invokes two varied kinds of interpretation. Some scholars believe the bearded man in the painting is the depiction of Mathew as he seems to pointing at himself while asking or wondering if at all it is him that Jesus was calling (Fish, 2021). When one considers the other pieces of work in the series, then that position holds so much weight in the identification of Mathew in the painting. The bearded man assumes the identity of Mathew in all the two works and therefore it becomes evident or practicable to conclude that he is the Mathew that Caravaggio attempted to depict (Fish, 2021). On the contrary, other scholars have interpreted the painting to the effect that the bearded man was pointed to the young man who was seated to the extreme end of the table and asking Jesus if it was him that he was summoning. Such interpretation highlights the moment when the young Mathew raised his head to look at Jesus.

                         In light of these varying and contradicting opinions and interpretation, some scholars aver that Caravaggio deliberately created the confusion in his painting. In the painting, the gloom and the window have symbolic significance. It was Caravaggio`s way of highlighting the fact that Christ was bring true light, salvation to the tax collectors who were sitting around the table. The painting brings the interaction of two different sets of worlds, the secular world of sin which includes treasures, and the other world of faith (Fish, 2021). He also portrays Jesus as being barefoot which can only create two different kinds of interpretation. First, it could mean that Jesus was being humble as opposed to the men who were sitting around the table, all having been tax collectors. On the other hand, the depiction could imply holiness and project Jesus as being the holy son of God that he had been. The interpretation of the painting has involved so many notable people in the clergy include Pope Francis among other reputable figures in the Roman Catholic church.  Similarly, the painting also cast the identity of Jesus into light. Most art scholars believe that Caravaggio not only wanted to depict Mathew and his calling, but also of Jesus and his role (Fish, 2021). For instance, it has been argued from different quarters that how Jesus extends his hand to reach Mathew creates the element of him being Adam. The New Testament makes certain comparison between Adam and Christ. For example, Romans 5;12-21 states “just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous”

             Michelangelo Caravaggio was an Italian artist who spent most of his life plying his trade in Italy up until his death. He was born on September 1571 and later died in July 1610.  In his twenties, Caravaggio trained in Millan as a painter before proceeding to Rome where he became a painter 9Fish, 2021). In Rome, apart from making a name as talented artis, he was also known widely as being touchy and violent. He was had a brawl that led to him being cited for murder charges, forcing him to flee to Naples where he re-established his artistic skills and became prominent in that society. when he left Naples and later returned, he got involved in another brawl that led to his face being disfigured and of rumors that he died of it (Fish, 2021). His cause of death has however not been established with most people believing that he was poisoned while other opine that he died of fever. 

Francisco De Goya, The Third of May

            The third may is a piece of art, a painting that was done by a Spanish artist known as Francisco De Goya in 1814 and is currently kept in Spain. De Goya had the objective of commemorating the Spanish resistance to Napoleon invasion during the 1808 war in the peninsular. with the approval of Goya, the Spanish provisional government commissioned the work and is currently secured at the Museo del Prado in Spain (San, 2020). The presentation, emotional effect and the content in the painting makes it a horror of war. Today, the painting is considered as being the first of its kind in the modern era art, especially because it deviates from the traditional depiction of religious activities and war. Kenneth Clark, one of the leading historians when it comes to ancient arts states that “the first great picture which can be called revolutionary in every sense of the word, in style, in subject, and in intention” (San, 2020) After its success and the wide acclamation that it received, it inspired several paintings of similar character and theme in Europe and abroad. 

          When Napoleon I of France realized that Kling Charles of Spain was a weakling who had no control even over his court, he decided to take advantage of the situation. He convinced King Charles that they both should conquer Portugal and equally share the spoils. Under the pretext of aiding Spain in the war, Napoleon sent over twenty thousand to Spain and annexed it (San, 2020). It was this occupation of Spain by French soldiers and when Napoleon`s intentions became clear that inspired De Goya to make the painting to depict the uprising against French invasion and occupation. He, just like other of his friends were in difficult situations with respect to the invasion. In 1814, after the final and complete expulsion of the French soldiers, Goya approached the government to allow make the most notable depiction of their heroic rebellion against the European tyrants. With the King`s approval, Goya started to work on the Third May, although it is not known if he was personally at the scene of rebellion. 

          At the first instance, the painting did not receive warm reception from the historians and other artists who viewed it as being improper depiction of war. They believed that the manner in which Goya had depicted the war was not heroic and thus gave it a cold reception. Some critical observers stated that the painting had the adversaries standing too close to each other and that it a had a flat perspective (San, 2020). Even though such observation might bear some truth in them, other scholars have opined that Goya was not angling for academic propriety but instead was trying to foster the effect of the painting on the perception of most people. The third may could be similar to other works of art by Goya, but its authority and quality derives from the fact that it departed from the traditional painting styles and skills (San, 2020). The painting was however connected to some Christian martyrdom evidenced by the use of Chiaroscuro. Works of art that portrayed violence and other forms war in the ancient times were done in different fashion as opposed to what Goya had done. 

            In the third may, most scholars have tried to compare or draw some similarities between the arm in the painting and that of Christ. To some extent, even though Goya was trying to depict the war or rebellion against Napoleon invasion, it did not fall short of religious depiction. The figure that Goya depicts on the painting has some marks like those of Jesus Christ that he bore after the crucifixion (San, 2020). Similarly, the lantern resembles those that the Roman soldiers carried when coming to arrest Christ. This way, Goya copies some attributes of Baroque, through the lantern in the painting that acts a source of illumination, even though it serves to symbolize miracle. Goya also presents the victims as being anonymous just as much as their killers. Also, the painting demonstrates the progress of time in ways that had never been seen before in the ancient western art.

              Francisco Goya was born on march 1746 and died on April 1828. Accordingly, Goya was a Spanish painter, who is today believed to have been the most notable Spanish artist in both eighteenth and nineteenth century. His paintings reflected various historical events and influenced other artists to develop his kind of art (San, 2020). Goya was born to middle class parents and moved to Madrid at the age of fourteen to study painting under the guidance of the then artist called Anton Mengs. He married in 1773 but his marriage was notable for various pregnancies and miscarriages, with only one son surviving to adulthood. His career as a painter continued to blossom until he became a court painter in Spain, with his collection being replete of paintings of aristocrats and the royalties. In 1793, he suffered a severe disease that made him deaf, which impacted his art negatively, making him become more pessimistic. He later served as the director of the royal academy in 1795 (San, 2020). Following a stroke that he suffered, he partially became blind and unable to continue with his works of arts. He later died of the stroke in 1828 having attained the age of 82.

Marie De Medici, Queen of France, Landing in Marseilles

              The above title was also a painting done by Peter Paul between 1622 and 1625. The above painting was commissioned by the said Marie De Medici to mark her life and that of her husband. Today, the painting is kept in Paris in France, and is among the twenty-four paintings that marks the successful career of Paul Reubens (Curry, 2020). The painting depicts the arrival of the French queen in Marseilles in 1600 and is welcome by several characters that represented France as evidenced by the fact that they carried the French royalty symbol. At the lower part of the painting, Paul depict Neptune and the daughter of the sea God welcoming and saluting Marie De Medici while at the upper part of the painting are the characters trumpeting the Queen`s arrival to France. Accordingly, most scholars believe that Paul was using such figures to convert the arrival into a political event by signifying Marie`s right to the throne (Curry, 2020). The several symbols of French authority that he uses in the painting were deliberate to signify the welcome, and intention of political goodwill between her and the French government and its people. She had commissioned close to twenty-four pictures and paintings of her by Paul to demonstrate several political events. This was her attempt to try to influence public opinion concerning her right to the throne (Curry, 2020). She rightly believed that the throne was her place considering her linage and therefore used various arts especially paintings to drive that point home. 

         Paul evidently takes a different style in his painting, departing from the traditions of the ancient art industry in Europe. Most artist had the penchant of making paintings of historical events or religious figures and activities. However, for Paul Reubens, he changed the course of art industry and painted Marie De Medici who used his paintings to influence political opinion in the public to make a case of her claim of the throne (Curry, 2020). There is little if not at all, any records pointing to whether Marie De Medici benefit from such strategy, but what remains undisputed is the fact that Paul still remains one of the most notable figures in the ancient world of art, especially around Europe. In the seventeenth century, Paul Reubens was considered the most famous and popular artist in Europe, particularly among the Baroque artists. The painting did not just originate from Paul`s mind, but was a depiction of areal life even that had taken place in France when Marie De Medici arrived into the country (Winner, 2019). She wielded so much power and influence, but she never became a ruler considering her gender, only holding the seat of power in trust for her son. The painting also portrays the birth of Marie`s son who would later take over the reigns of French seat of power and authority.

           Having looked at the painting and its effects and who it depicted; it would also be significant to take a brief look into the life of Paul Reubens. Petr was born in 1577 and grew to become a diplomat in Netherlands. Among the members of Baroque class of artists, Paul is considered the most notable and the most influential among them all (Winner, 2019). He specialized in both Christians and classical art, earning him more respect and repute from his colleagues in the profession of art. He was a painter who specialized in producing paintings, landscapes and historical drawings and also produced cartoons. He is part of the few artists who relied on the use of wooden panels but also used canvass to support his paintings. Among other things, he became a prominent figure in the counter reformist arts where he championed the catholic agenda against the reformists (Winner, 2019). He received a renaissance humanist in Antwerp having studied classical literature and Latin. To sharpen his skills in painting, he perfected his art under the tutelage of the then most successful painters Adam Van Noort and Otto Veen. He later died in 1640 due to heart failure.

Reflection

           This semester has been informative when it comes to art and the role it plays in the society. I came to learn that art was not just a form of entertainment but also serve other roles like creating religious, political and historical awareness. Most of the artists I came across were inclined towards the three spheres of life and made very impactful contribution to the society in such regard. In the ancient Europe, the Catholic heavily relied on arts to counter the emerging influence of protestants using different artists. Apart from religion, I also got learn about Paul Rubens and how he used to his talents in painting to influence public opinion especially in favor of Marie De Medici who wanted to occupy the French throne by way of right. If anything, the place of art cannot be understated both in the contemporary and ancient society in Europe where art thrived. Some of the most notable art that I learnt in the semester included painting, drawings among others. besides, apart from them being talents, most of such artists learned them through apprenticeship.

           In conclusion, this analysis demonstrates the place of art in recollecting various historical, religious and political events, especially through paintings and drawings. In the ancient times, the church relied mostly on arts to promote their agenda to the people, and the catholic used such strategy to counter the growing influence of the reformists. Paul Rubens was one of the artists who used his skills for political initiatives considering that his work on Marie De Medici was meant to influence public opinion on the throne politics in France. The Third of May by De Goya was however a painting recollecting historical event, particularly the Spanish rebellion against the Napoleon invasion. On the other hand, the calling of St. Mathews and the Woman holding a Balance had religious connotations