Researching art for this SLP was no easy feat. In terms of Baroque art, of which I know I have mentioned in the past was my preferred period, there were so many pieces that caught my eye. Many of those I reviewed had an impact on me, either minimally or profound. Either was, deciding on a piece to write about didn’t not come easy. However, in narrowing down my choices, I chose a piece called “Calvary” by Abraham Janssens van Nuyssen. This piece has significant importance to me and my formative years.

Abraham Janssens van Nuyssen was a Flemish Baroque painter, who was born around 1573 in Antwerp, and was known, for his time, to be “the dean of the master painters”. Early life reports noted that he was a student of Jan Snellinck. His stylistic development signifies that he could have possibly visited Rome during the years 1598 through 1601, as it’s apparent in his works that he was clearly influenced by the vigorous modeling and dramatic lighting of Caravaggio, and possibly the Roman Baroque school. There are also hints,in his style, that he was largely influenced by such artists as Carracci and Domenichino. They were classics of the Bolognese school. Over time and through experience, his technique and compositions became looser and even more animated. He could have possibly fell under the spell of Ruben, as did most artists in Flanders during these later years. Janssens died in Antwerp, his birth city on January 25, 1632.

Janssens work, “Calvary” has significant value and influence on me, since I can recall my early years learning the Catholic faith. Coming from a strict catholic upbringing, it was necessary for me to learn the religion, catechisms, and attend church weekly. In all of this, I crossed this piece, as well as others like it, regularly. I can recall as a child looking at art like this wondering what it was like to live during those times and the impact these had on my “should I sin”. Of course, these were my thoughts as a child, as naïve as I was at the time. I recall thinking, as you look at the piece, the dark backdrop and how it’s dramatic effect it had on me.