Reni was a pioneering Baroque painter, evolving a style which moderated Baroque excitement/ complexity with classical restraint
Comissioned by Cardinal Pietro Aldobrandini for S. Paolo alle Tre Fontane
Strong Caravaggio influence 'paint the picture in Caravaggio's dark and driven manner'- Cavalier d'Arpino (owned the studio where the two rivals worked side-by-side.)
Peter is viewed as one of the founders of the Catholic church with Paul- effectively conveys the brutality of this sacrifice for his faith
A very poignent, reflective work due to moody sky and abscence of divine figures
Although strong use of Chiaroscurro it is not that pronounced; there is a lighter and defined background with landscape details
Light floods down onto all the figures bodies except the man at the top
Very realistic depiction of the tools used for inserting/ extracting nails
The 3 executioners are painted with dignity and smooth semi- idealised figures
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The Martyrdom of St Peter- Caravaggio 1601
Comissioned alongside 'The Conversion of St Paul', paid for by the treasurer of Clement VII, a wealthy aristocrat
Made for the side walls of Tiberio Cerasi's chapel in Santa Maria del Popolo
Peter was supposedly executed by Nero in Rome after being imprisoned by Herod Agrippa in Jerusalem
Not a heroic drama but a wretched/ humilliating execution
Peter is non- idealised, displaying physical degredation
A play on tension- all forces of nature against each other in a single transient moment
A complex set of movements, with the forms of the executioners forming the shame of a cross, on either side of Peter's wooden beam
Strong use of white to show up the dirt of the peasant workers
Light controls what is revealed, the other 3 faces in darknes (sin)
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The Stoning of St Stephen- Rubens 1617
Stephen was christianity's first Martyr, repromanded for performing great miracles in Jerusalem: Jews of the outer provinces produced a false witness to accuse him of blasphemy
From the Triptyon of St Stephen, created for the city of Lille's churches and convents
Fragment of Stephens vision in the temple: 'i see heaven open and the son of man at the right hand of God'
Clean horizontal divide creates symbolism of Stephens battle between good and evil
A frenzy of excitement
The outstretched feet of the prominent angel/ putti represents trampling on the sinners
The cylindrical stone tower on the left is part of Jerusalem
Clouds accentuate a rippling movement, like 'the heavens pouring fourth'
Stephen is vertical/ static, implying peace (God is giving him mental power) and allowing him to be taller
Men grovel around on floor like animals, looking savage with sack cloth clothing
Contrasts of flesh: Stephens is sickly yellow, stoners is muscular and pink
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