Hamda Mohamed

The Renaissance was a period of immense growth in terms of politics, economics and cultural importance of art within society. Renaissance is a french word that means “rebirth”, which is what happened between the years 1300-1600, as it marked a rebirth and transition from the middle ages to a more modern Europe. The origin of the renaissance can be traced back to Florence, Italy. A city with plenty of rich citizens who were able to financially support artists that they enjoyed. Later on, the rebirth of modern society would spread to other cities in Italy, such as Venice, Milan, Bologna, Ferrara and Rome. Then, during the 15th century, Renaissance ideas spread from Italy to France and then throughout western and northern Europe.

 

Religion also went through tremendous change and transformation during the Renaissance. Many more people were getting educated and learning to read and write, this allowed individuals to be more critical about religious texts or scriptures they were reading. Furthermore, the Bible became much more easily accessible, due to the printing press. So overall, people became more conscious and critical of Religion and their beliefs, which is reflected in the surplus of religious artwork created during the time period.

 

Jacopo Cormin, more commonly known as Tintoretto, was a famous Renaissance painter. He is believed to have been born in late September or early October of 1518 in Venice, Italy and died on May 31 1594. He was a Mannerist painter and exponent of the Venetian school. Tintoretto was admired for the boldness of his brushwork and due to the energy he had while painting, he was also known as II Furioso, which means ‘furious’ in Italian. Tintoretto painted many classic paintings from the late Renaissance such as Vulcan Surprising Venus and Mars (c. 1555), the Mannerist Christ and the Adulteress (c. 1545–48), and his masterpiece of 1592–94, the Last Supper of San Giorgio Maggiore (Pallucchini, 2019). Tintoretto was deeply inspired by another Renaissance painter named Titian, he admired his use of colour, but wanted to also incorporate some of Michelangelo.

 

Tintoretto’s depiction of Agony in the Garden is a much more relaxed and peaceful interpretation than versions made by other artists. Agony of the Garden shows Jesus’ disciples falling asleep while Jesus is praying to God about his worries regarding his future betrayal and death. However Jesus also made it clear to God that he has faith in His plan and is trying to not let his fear and anxieties get to him, and consequently God sent him an angel to ease his worries. Tintoretto’s painting encompasses Jesus’ feelings of acceptance of the future and his fate, and hope as well as destiny.