Formal Analysis

In Sebastiano Ricci’s The Battle of Lapiths and Centaurs, a geometrical structure of lighting is used to lead our eye around the painting. He also uses movement of the arms to do the same. This piece is influenced by Renaissance and Baroque styles and is a good example of the transition into more romantic paintings.

The composition of this piece is well balanced. Although the subjects are cropped, they are cropped on both the right and the left side, making the painting horizontally balanced. This also gives an effect to the viewer that there is more depth to what is shown; giving the feeling that the viewer is almost in the battle with them. These cropped subjects nicely frame the triangular composition of the people fighting in the middle who are piled on top of each other. The triangle’s base begins with figures on the floor and rises to a point with other figures standing so the viewer can see the actions of every character.

Use of geometric patterns are also used in the lighting to lead the eye around the composition. This is seen in an upside down triangle. Our eyes first catch attention in the foreground, where there is a tenebristic spotlight effect. They then move to the next most lit spot to the right in the mid-ground, and then to the left. This lighting moves the viewer’s eyes through the depths of the picture plane and also reveals systematically what is happening in this painting. From this movement, you can see that women are placed into the battle. As your eye moves in the directed places, you see the women being taken by the centaurs, relaying what the battle is possibly about. Many of the subject’s arms are raised to create movement as well as action. The arms direct our eyes to more specific details in the fight in a circular motion around the bottom two-thirds of the painting.

While looking at the details of this painting, it is clear that his brushwork is loose, and even more so with nature subjects. This is also used in the background to create atmospheric perspective. Although it is loose, he is able to capture great detail with the use of chiaroscuro and creating realistic texture in the clothing. The anatomy of the figures were rendered well and his skill is shown in the dynamic use of foreshortening in many of the subjects. To show depth, the artist also uses more vibrant colors in the foreground and highlights, and darkens its intensity in the lowlight.

In all this painting is an interesting mythological piece. From the individualistic expressions of the subjects, the classical architecture in nature, and even the statue that seems alive in the background; there is a great sense of emotion. The composition creates so much movement it seems as though the action is real and happening right in front of you. The geometric pattern of light used as a way to lead the eye around the piece is also a great use of chiaroscuro. For these reasons I believe this work is influenced by the Baroque period and shows the transformation to more romantic works.