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Monday, June 18, 2012

Rinaldo: mascolinità melodrammatica

Speranza

By courtesy of Kim.

The five major visual differences between the paintings of Van Dyck and Tiepolo were the stress on architecture over nature, the position of Rinaldo and Armida, the presence of animals, the nudity, and the darker tones.

Tiepolo places architecture as a main focus in his "Rinaldo and Armida".

The prominent white marble structures in the back and right of the painting give a classical feel, more so than the pastoral background in Van Dyck’s interpretation.

The presence of classical architecture may be a reference to the epic poems of ancient Greece and Rome.

The position of Rinaldo and Armida is different as well.

In Van Dyck’s painting, Armida is leaning over Rinaldo’s sleeping body.

In Tiepolo’s, Armida sits with her arm around the Rinaldo’s shoulder.

Armida has a commanding, masculine position in both scenes, yet Rinaldo is more effeminate- looking in Tiepolo’s.

One feels that Tiepolo’s painting of Rinaldo better reflects Tasso.

Tiepolo’s interpretation of Tasso’s poem includes animal life, in the form of birds.

The parrot in the top right of the painting may be a reference to Canary Island, the alleged location of Armida’s enchanted garden.

Interestingly, there are no animals in Van Dyck’s painting.

While both pairs are dressed in classical garb, Tiepolo’s shows more nudity and therefore contains more sexuality than Van Dyck’s.

With the exposed breast and legs of the lovers, there is a greater sense of the sexual nature between the two.

Van Dyck’s painting presents a more innocent relationship between the two, since Rinaldo is asleep and Armida is fully clothed draping garlands around him.

Although the nymph is nude, since she is not part of the couple, it seems less sexual.

The last major difference is the color of the paintings.

Van Dyck’s is bright with the three primary colors, red, blue, and yellow, all placed next to one another to create contrast and action in the painting.

Compared to Tiepolo, who uses dark, muted colors to describe Rinaldo and Armida’s outfits, as well as the setting.

The shaded tones give a malicious feel to the painting, unlike Van Dyck’s vibrant colors that liven up the scene.

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