Research

 Religion and art

I was asked to research two pieces of Religious art, a historic piece and a modern appropriation piece. I have decided to look at the Old Gods rather than more mainstream religions. 

This first piece I’m looking at is “Saturn devouring his son” by the Spanish romantic painter Francisco Goya between 1819 and 1823. This piece is an oil mural now transferred to canvas due to it originally being painted on the walls of Goya’s home. This painting is part of a series called the “black paintings” due the subjects of them and the dark times of Goya’s life and mental state,Goya never intended for the public to see these works. 

Inspired by Greek and Roman mythology this painting shows the story of Cronus, the last of the Titans and the God of time. Cronus was given a prophecy by his parents ,the Gods Uranus  and Gaia, that he would be overthrown by one of his children. Haunted by this prophecy Cronus devoured each child after its birth, he ate 5 of his children until the mother hid the last child and fooled Cronus with a rock in cloth. The surviving child was Zeus who later went on to poison Cronus making him regurgitate his sibling and overtaking his farther, completing the prophecy. Goya has depicted Cronus as a large naked man, grasping a small bloody headless figure in his hands and mouth. The face of Cronus is almost psychotic and rabid in expression, showing the wrath of these gods and their almost animal like actions. This piece is highly expressive with the strokes and colours the artist has chosen, using dark colours throughout with only pops of brightness with white In the highlights and the wild eyes, this really reinforces the sharp bones and crazed expression. This piece was never meant to be seen, painted in his own dining room I believe there is a real sense of intimacy with this piece. The portrayal of the old gods In a time and place mainly influenced by Catholicism. As it was never meant to be seen there is no real explanation for this piece, some believe it’s representing the social and political unrest of Spain at the time, others believe it represents his own fears of insanity. I really like this piece as it’s religious art but it’s approach to portraying the God is gruesome and horrifying compared to the ethereal mainstream religious paintings but I believe there is something quite beautiful about it, it’s a raw painting, he hasn’t passed over the horror of these story’s and painted only pretty parts but has really explored the darkness of it all.