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From 16th Century To 17th Century

5 min read
From 16th Century To 17th Century

The 16th and 17th centuries were a time of great change in the world of art. The Renaissance, which began in the 15th century, continued throughout the 16th century, and its influence can be seen in the art of the 17th century. The 17th century was also a time of great religious and political upheaval, which is reflected in the art of the time.

Cardinal Fernando Niño de Guevara (1541–1609)

Greek, Iráklion (Candia) 1541–1614 Toledo / The Met

    This intense portrait depicts Fernando Nino de Guevara (1541 - 1609), who in 1596 was named cardinal and is dressed as such here.
    In 1599 he became Inquisitor General of Spain but resigned in 1602 to serve the rest of his life as Archbishop of Seville.
    The painting probably dates from the spring of 1600 when the cardinal was in Toledo with Philip III and members of the Madrid court.

Futuh al-Haramain (Description of the Holy Cities)

Iranian or Indian, died 1521 or 1526/27 / The Met

    The Futuh al-Haramayn is a poetic description of the Holy Cities of Mecca and Medina, composed by Muhi al-din Lari in the early sixteenth century.
    Often lavishly illustrated, it provides instructions on the hajj pilgrimage rituals and descriptions of important sites Muslim pilgrims can visit.
    The Futuh was popular in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, when it was mainly copied in the Ottoman realm from Mecca to Istanbul, and also in Central Asia and India.

Vanitas Still Life

Netherlandish, Antwerp 1565–1629 The Hague / The Met

    This panel is generally considered to be the earliest known independent still-life painting of a vanitas subject, or symbolic depiction of human vanity.
    The skull, large bubble, cut flowers, and smoking urn refer to the brevity of life, while images floating in the bubble - such as a wheel of torture and a leper's rattle - refer to human folly.
    The figures flanking the arch above are Democritus and Heraclitus, the laughing and weeping philosophers of ancient Greece.

Engraved Lamp Stand with Chevron Pattern

Islamic Art / The Met

    The poetry inscribed around this lamp stand expresses mystical Sufi sentiments.
    Lyrical verses from the Bustan (Orchard) of Sa'di are placed in three zigzag-shaped registers covering the shaft.
    I remember one night as my eyes would not sleep I heard a moth speaking with a candle.
   [Said the moth:] "Because I am a lover, it is [only] right that I should burn[But,] why should you weep and burn yourself up?"

"'Umar Walks around Fulad Castle, Meets a Foot Soldier and Kicks Him to the Ground", Folio from a Hamzanama (The Adventures of Hamza)

Indian, active ca. 1570–1604 / The Met

    The Hamzanama recounts the fable of Hamza, an uncle of the Prophet Muhammad who was a legendary defender of the faith.
    This painting illustrates an episode involving 'Umar, a spy loyal to Hamza, who learns of a secret tunnel into Fulad castle from the soldier whom he has bested.
    It comes from a multivolume, large-scale copy of the text made for the emperor Akbar that took approximately fifteen years to complete.
    Unlike most books, its paintings were probably meant to be held up for an audience while a storyteller recited the text.

Saint Francis

Italian, Urbino ca. 1535–1612 Urbino / The Met

    This canvas is conceived as a meditation on Saint Francis of Assisi (1181/82 - 1226), who is shown in a grotto on Mount La Verna, where he received the stigmata (depicted as protruding nails, in conformity with early Franciscan sources).
    A key figure in the history of Italian painting, Barocci was close to the Capuchin order, and this deeply felt work must have been intended for a friar or a supporter of the Franciscan order.
    Barocci was a slow, meticulous painter.
   His work, with its compositional refinement, its warm humanity and deep expressivity, laid the groundwork for Baroque art

A Mountainous Landscape with a Waterfall

Flemish, Kortrijk ca. 1560–1632/33 Antwerp / The Met

    Unlike Jan Brueghel the Elder, who was a leading figure in the development of realistic landscape painting, Kerstiaen de Keuninck continued the Flemish tradition of imaginary mountain scenery that descended from Patinir.
    This large panoramic landscape view, dominated by fantastic mountains and rock formations, is an early work of the artist and was probably painted in Antwerp.
    It employs contrasting pictorial effects - such as heavy passages of opaque paint set off against areas sketched in a very thin medium - and bold motifs like the water spray formed by flicking the brush to suggest the sublime effects of Nature.

Portrait of a Man, Possibly an Architect or Geographer

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