Bodies and Shadows: Caravaggio and His Legacy at the LACMA

Wall text courtesy of the LACMA museum. Photograph by Wendy Ratanakul.

Having recently joined Art Historians of SouthernCalifornia, I had the privilege of attending my first members’ event at the LACMA to view the exciting exhibition, Bodies and Shadows: Caravaggio and His Legacy. The exhibition was curated by Patrice Maradel, Chief Curator of European Painting and Sculpture.

Highlights of the event included an introduction by Professor Deana Hight, President of AHSC. Followed by a very insightful roundtable panel discussion with Clare Kunny (Independent Art Administrator), Sandra Esslinger (Professor at Mt. San Antonio College), and Mary Lenihan (Director of Adult Programs at LACMA’s Education Department). The conversation concerned the relationship between art museums and the academia. It also touched upon how technology and online classes play a significant role in viewing art. An important question was raised such as, how does viewing art from a computer or a phone is different from the experience of seeing an art work in person.

After the roundtable discussion, Patrice Maradel spoke about how developing the exhibition has helped expand the museum’s Baroque painting collection.

Saint Frances of Assisi in Ecstasy, Oil on panel, Caravaggio, 1595. 

Bodies and Shadows: Caravaggio and His Legacy introduce the work of Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610), tracing his evolution of his style. He was one of the most famous artists of his time, surpassing even Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. His paintings exude passion, violence, and raw emotion, experienced throughout his life. With pitch blacks and intense whites, Caravaggio rendered his figures with sublime naturalism, perfecting the technique of chiaroscuro. The exhibition is made up of 56 works in all, including 8 works by Caravaggio. Even after his death, Caravaggio continued to inspire and influence artists from Italy, Spain, France, and the Netherlands.

If you are in Los Angeles, I highly recommend attending the exhibition. It is not every day that one is fortunate enough to experience the seductive, darkness, and strange beauty of Caravaggio’s works in person. This exhibition should not be missed. 

The Arnolfini Portrait

The Arnolfini Portrait is an oil painting on oak panel by early Netherlandish artist, Jan Van Eyck. Dated 1434, the painting has mystified art historians for centuries. At first glance, the painting appears to be straight forward, but upon closer inspection, each object and each gesture are symbols for virtues that are universally known; such as faith, fidelity, love, and prosperity.

The complexity given to each object in the painting is what makes The Arnolfini Portrait so appealing. The couple standings before two witnesses that can seen in the small mirror on the wall behind them. Giovanni holds his right hand up on a gesture that suggests he's taking an oath. The bride is standing by the marriage bed. Could this possibly symbolize her expected role of mother and care taker of the home? Their shoes are off which means that they are standing upon sacred ground. The material of their clothing and furniture signifies their wealth and taste. Jan Van Eyck displayed a master hand at realism by painting layers after layers of translucent glazes to create intense tone and color. The glowing colors help highlight the opulence of the couple's world.

Some objects have a submerge symbol attached to it. The family dog is a symbol for loyalty. The single lit candle above the couple is not merely a light source, but a representation of the Holy Spirit. All speculation aside, The Arnolfini Portrait is lush it it's detail and continues to intrigue viewers with it's mysterious and lyrical representation.