Some of what is going on is that these artists often are drawing from myth, legend and story you may not be familiar with..plus for religious figures in particular, there is an old tradition of certain figures being associated with certain symbols, like a fuller's club for St. James the lesser, musical instruments, especially the organ, with St. Cecelia, eyes with St. Lucy, and so on.
If you aren't getting some of it, it's probably because you need someone to give you not just an interesting picture, but the background to the subject to get the most out of it.
Those are good questions you ask. Sometimes, the background will give the answers, and sometimes, you are just supposed to wonder about it and come to your own conclusions, I believe.
I like Rembrandt and Vermeer a lot. Rembrandt runs from highly dramatic pieces like Nightwatch to a lot of really pleasant still lives, and lots and lots of portraits. Some of his best work though, revolves around his religious scenes, imho. Vermeer is beautiful, pleasant, skillful and relaxing to look at.
Rubens does do delightful, intimate pictures, but he does so many of the big pictures that you can study for hours they're so rich with detail and you often need to know the type of symbolism or background story behind it to get it all.
Thank you both for your responses.
Sometimes, the background will give the answers, and sometimes, you are just supposed to wonder about it and come to your own conclusions, I believe.
Do either of you (or anyone else) know of a book, or probably a series of books that have not only the pictures, but an explanation of what's going on in them? I have several art books, but the texts always seem to give insight into what was going on in the artist's development rather than what's in the picture.
Owl_Eagle
(If what I just wrote makes you sad or angry,