Lily of the Valley

Baroque Period   The Crucifixion by Simon Vouet was painted around 1636 - 1637 as one of three pieces for a private home chapel.  This painting was placed centered over the main alter and depicts the moment of Jesus's death with Mary, the mother of Jesus, having fainted against St. John, two other women helping him and Mary Magdeline to the side looking at Jesus in apparent shock.  Jesus is highlighted in the center of the painting as the sky turns black in the background at the time of his death despite the noon timeframe contributing to the dramatic color of the scene.  The intense contrast of colors as well as the contrast of flowing lines in the bottom portion of the painting pull the eye upward to the only straight and nearly white portion of the scene, Jesus.  The characters of the painting are frozen in the exact moment of Jesus's death as his head falls to the side and his body hangs limply by his hands.  The scene is calling to the viewer the inte...

 The Sack of Lyon by the Calvinists in 1562 is an oil painting on wood created by artist Antoine Caron in 1565 depicting the destruction of religious art, icons, illustrations, relics and altarpiece in France. Following the 95 Theses posted by Martin Luther denouncing many common practices in the Catholic church, the start of the Reformation began, i.e. a reforming of the church.  The sale of "indulgences" was a common and lucrative practice where in a person could "buy forgivness" and secure their place in the afterlife.  Sadly, fear and money are a poor combination and the Catholic church was heavily taking advantage.  The Reformation brought about new ways of interpreting and teaching the Bible, leading to a revolt against the Catholic church in a nearly extreme opposite direction.   It was (and still is today) practice to venerate (to honor, give regard to, show respect or deference to) icons, relics and locations within churches or holy places.  I...