The Baroque and Neoclassicism are different periods that influenced art and artists and created a provenance that is visible until today. Marked for having a totally different emphasis and focus, art works from those periods had different characters and themes. For example, the Baroque was characterized for its massive or monumental scale and intense emotions; the Neoclassicism period, on the other hand, focused more on classical period and on being historically correct both on settings and costumes. Peter Paul Rubens’ work, The Martyrdom of St. Leiven, was not an exception of the Baroque period: it constrains the deceptions of intense emotions, the use of asymmetrical composition, and emphasis on color and light. Differently, Jacques-Louis David’s The Death of Marat …show more content…
Leiven was based on St. Livinus’ life, specifically an episode where he tries to change people’s believe and is assaulted by robbers who cut his tongue out and then give it to dogs. The attackers were then punished with God’s devastating thunder. Even though not a gospel story, the painting was commissioned for the church of St. Livinus in Ghent. Differently, David’s painting narrow a contemporary story; the death of French journalist. On both paintings were influenced by what the artists believed in. Ruben was a catholic; therefore, The Martyrdom of St. Leiven is a counter-reformation painting – supporting the catholic response to the Luther’s Reformation. Likewise, David’s painting also supports a movement that he strongly believes. The Death of Marat portrays the death of Marat, who was a journalist in favor of the French Revolution. Moreover, they also resemble important historical moments of the period. Ruben’s painting is the perfect example of artwork from the Baroque period; Baroque is characterized for the use of rich textures, the emphasis on color and light, the intense emotions and drama, and The Martyrdom of St. Leiven had all of it. On the other