Blissexplore
logo

Eyes to behold stunning artworks in world-class museums.

From 1535 To 1568

  • Yoel Davis

Yoel Davis

•5 min read
Netherlandish, second quarter 16th century / The Met

    Bosch's fiery hell scenes were enormously popular throughout Europe in the sixteenth century.
    A vast, desolate landscape with a burning city at the right and the river Styx at the left is the setting for this nightmarish vision, in which Christ breaks down the gates of hell to rescue the souls of the just.
    Gesturing in supplication towards him, Adam and Eve kneel on top of a ruinous tower.
   Behind them, Old Testament figures climb the winding stairs from the depths of hell, among them Abraham and Isaac with the sacrificial ram, and Noah with a model of the ark

The Flagellation; (reverse) The Madonna of Mercy

Italian, Brescia 1484/87–1560 Brescia / The Met

    Romanino painted this expressive depiction of the flagellation of Christ as a processional banner for a confraternity, or lay religious group, in Brescia, a city not far from Milan.
    Contemporary German prints, which circulated widely in northern Italy, inspired its dramatically compressed composition and the vehemence of the brutish executioners.
    Caravaggio, the groundbreaking artist of the next generation, spent his formative years in the region and almost certainly knew and admired this painting.

The Lamentation

Spanish, Plasencia (?) 1510/11–1586 Alcántara / The Met

    Luis de Morales was celebrated for his devotional images.
    Their exquisite facture and morbid sensibility made them perfect vehicles for meditation and earned him the epithet "El Divino."
    He was the favorite painter of the religious reformer and saint Juan de Ribera (1532 - 1611).
    As one prominent scholar has noted:"No Spanish painter was ever to surpass Morales in expressing the passionate, personal faith of the mystical writers."
    This extremely fine picture was owned by Pope Pius VII and passed to his family upon his death in 1823.

Sign up for more like this.

Enter your emailSubscribe
From 14th Century To 15th Century

From 14th Century To 15th Century

During the 14th and 15th centuries, artists in Europe began to break away from the traditional Gothic style. They began to experiment with new techniques and styles, resulting in a period of great creativity and innovation in the arts. Some of the most famous artworks from this period include the paintings of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, and the sculptures of Donatello. Box with Romance Scenes     This coffret illustrated with scenes from Arthurian and other courtly literature of the M
-5 min read
From 1819 To 1826

From 1819 To 1826

The 19th century was a time of great change in the world of art. Artists began to experiment with new styles and media, and the art world was forever changed as a result. Some of the most famous artists of the time include Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, and Pablo Picasso. The Falls of Niagara     The painting is of Niagara Falls from the Canadian side.     The painting is based on a vignette of the falls from a map of North America published by Henry S. Tanner in 1822. Heroic Landscape w
-4 min read
From 1787 To 1800

From 1787 To 1800

The 18th century was a time of great change in the world of art. New styles and genres emerged, and artists began to experiment with new techniques and materials. The art of the 18th century reflected the changing times, and the growing interest in the natural world and the human form. Elizabeth Farren (born about 1759, died 1829), Later Countess of Derby     The Irish actress Elizabeth Farren made her London debut in 1777 and soon became one of the most popular comic performers of the day.  
-5 min read