Free Paper Sample on Saint' Apollinare Nuovo

Introduction

Human beings for a long time have used art as a technique of representing their creativity and imaginations. The essay entails a formal analysis of the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes of Saint' Apollinare Nuovo painting. The main areas of discussion include the abstract visual communication of the art, abstraction, and aesthetic qualities of the work.

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Mosaic

The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes of Saint is a mosaic by an unknown author and is located in Basilica di Sant' Apollinaire Nuovo, Ravenna, Italy (Ravenna Italy, 2020). According to Davies (2017), abstract visual communication of the paintings helps the audience to effectively interpret and respond emotionally to the artwork. The artist has used the abstract painting to communicate to the audience regarding a biblical event. Hence the artwork falls under the religious genre or was influenced by a spiritual environment. The art is, therefore, objective with a symbolic value representing a historical occurrence in the holy book. The first thing noticed in the artwork is the representation of a parable in the Bible when Jesus fed 5000 men. Jesus is seen blessing the fish and the loaves of bread used to nourish the multitudes. These events are recorded in the bible in the book of Matthew 14:13-21, Luke 9:12-17, and John 6:1-5.

Abstraction

Abstraction qualities are also evident in the painting as the artist enhanced and modified some elements in the art. Looking at the painting, it is apparent that the main character and the scene are easily recognizable. However, a closer look indicates that some elements have been stylized. For instance, Jesus in the painting is younger as he has no beard compared to the Biblical Christ. The four other characters represent the evangelists, although the 5000 men have not been included in the painting. Additionally, we can see four loaves of bread instead of five. Thus, the depictions in the art are inaccurate, providing the painting with an element of abstraction. Although abstraction focuses on representing reality, the artist has deliberately altered the elements. The golden background also looked blurred instead of blue sky. Li & Chen (2009) state that blurring effects in paintings bring depth and motion properties. Through abstraction, the artist communicates visually and abstractly to the audience.

Aesthetic Qualities

Additionally, aesthetic qualities create the feeling, mood, and atmosphere of the artwork (Ranta, 2015). Jesus has been dressed differently to distinguish him from the four disciples. The contrast of the vibrant colors is evident in the elements of art. Furthermore, the purple garment worn by Jesus portrays royalty. Movements have also been suspended in the artwork; this is evident through the static eyes of the characters with a frontal pose. Ranta (2015) argues that in abstract art, time, movement, and space are invalidated. The eyes of the characters represent a spiritual atmosphere. Additionally, the overall mood of the painting is calm, derived from the choice of colors used in the painting. The hues used in the art also influence the emotions of the audience as well as the atmosphere of the painting, which is pleasant and spiritual.

Moreover, the subjects' facial expressions and the posture of the heads attract the attention of the audience. The painting is also characterized by contour lines that contrast the elements. There is varied tone based on the color difference of the garments, background, and other elements in the art such as the plants. The disciples’ clothes act as a source of light in the painting due to their bright nature. The tone of the painting helps the audience to direct their attention to the focal points (Li & Chen, 2009). Finally, the title of the painting also makes it easier to interpret the artwork.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the visual abstract communicated about a scene in a religious setting. On the other hand, abstraction represents a real occurrence; however, the artist can alter some elements to achieve a specific purpose. Nevertheless, the technique does not distort the original representation of reality. The aesthetic qualities of the painting play an essential role in evoking an emotional response, defining the mood, tone, and atmosphere of the artwork.

References

Davies, J. (2017). Abstract Painting: The Elements of Visual Language. Jane Davies Publications.

Li, C., & Chen, T. (2009). Aesthetic visual quality assessment of paintings. IEEE Journal of selected topics in Signal Processing, 3(2), 236-252. Doi: 10.1109/JSTSP.2009.2015077

Ranta, M. (2015). Art, Aesthetic Value, and Beauty: On the Evolutionary Foundations of ‘Narrative Resemblance Concepts’. In XIXth International Congress of Aesthetics: Aesthetics in Action. Jagellonian University, Cracow, Poland, https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/publication/4739963

Ravenna Italy. (2020). Unknown Artist. The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes. St Apollinare Nuovo. Ravenna ITALY. 6th c | Art in Faith. Retrieved from
https://05varvara.wordpress.com/2011/09/09/unknown-artist-the-miracle-of-the-loaves-and-fishes-st-apollinare-nuovo-ravenna-italy-6th-century/unknown-artist-the-miracle-of-the-loaves-and-fishes-st-apollinare-nuovo-ravenna-italy-6th-c/.