Thanks again Dan, I'm learning a lot on these threads. I just take notes of what I see & do a little research...
#40, Elsheimer - places a lot of drama in the scene with the watching host. He painted "Holy Family w/ St. John the Baptist" similarly, with lots of heavenly host action and crowds.
I must like it when the artists 'crowd' the scene bc I like #42 by Isaacsz as well, though his 'staging' (is it called composition?) is curious to me. 1st, Christ is not at the center, instead two women and several children, one of whom is breastfeeding (a somewhat mundane action back then neh?), so the artist seems to 'center' on the 2 Marys(?)...hmm, why? *shrugs*... and who & why are those 'climbing' on the right? They're an additional movement, or focus, away form the main event. Still, I like the drama, the 'busyness' of it overall.
I also seem to like Baroque (I looked it up :)) bc it has action & drama...as in the previous, but also the dramatic bodies of #45, Spranger and the busyness of #54, DeClerk as well. I think Baroque & Mannerist are similar styles, at least in the drama department!
I liked how #59, Buchbinder, captures the feeling of John not feeling worthy to baptize Jesus...he depicts John as kneeling at least 'a bit'.
#64, the Russian, is different than all the rest...I like Gaagarin's use of light and Angels...very 'stylistic', he seems to have purposefully framed & composed it...maybe 'staged' it to even look obviously staged.
Curious, I looked into him a bit...he also painted mohamed, so I ended up not having a good feel for him. (it wasn't mentioned that he died of a beheading, though lol!)
Why? I have been baroke most of my lie. It ain't fun..................
Why? I have been baroke most of my lie. It ain't fun..................
About the symbolism of seashells. The seashell, especially the scallop, is the symbol of baptism in Christianity. A famous one is the symbol for the Apostle James the Greater. St. James used the scallop shell during his pilgrimage to beg for food and water. Even the poorest people could fill the small shell, so he always found help along his way. Later, followers of St. James wore the scallop-shell symbol on their hats and clothes and it became the symbol of pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.
"To him who has...."