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Caravaggio’s Heirs – Baroque in Naples
I took the chance to visit Caravaggio’s Heirs – Baroque in Naples that is on exhibit at Museum Wiesbaden, Wiesbaden (capital of Hessen) on my 2nd last day in Frankfurt with Daiana and my sister-in-law, Najwa.
The exhibition is from 14 October 2016 until 12 February 2017. If you are somewhere in the Hessen, do visit the exhibition. From Frankfurt, it is about 40 minutes train ride to Wiesbaden. Fare is €16. Museum ticket fee is €10.
Caravaggio’s Heirs – Baroque in Naples brings flourishing Golden Age of Italian paintings that began in 1606 with the arrival of Caravaggio in Naples. During the next decade, Caravaggio became a much-admired model for generations of Neopolitan Baroque artists such as Giovanni Battista Caracciolo, Artemisia Gentileschi, Jusepe de Ribera, Salvator Rosa, Mattia Preti, Luca Giordano and Francesco Solimena.
Presenting more than 200 works by some 50 artists from as many lenders in eleven countries, the exhibition traces the development of Neapolitan Baroque painting.
Who is Caravaggio?
Michelangelo Merisi (Michael Angelo Merigi or Amerighi) da Caravaggio (29 September 1571 – 18 July 1610) was active in Rome, Naples, Malta, and Sicily. His paintings, which combine a realistic observation of the human state, both physical and emotional, with a dramatic use of lighting (reminds me of Rembrandt), had a formative influence on Baroque painting.
Caravaggio was contracted for many works, including the work in the Contarelli Chapel, which was in the Church of San Luigi dei Francesi. Following this commission, he was later given several contracts to do work throughout several chapels in Rome, as well as in neighbouring cities. For the most part, these new paintings, and each new job he took, helped to increase the fame which he was experiencing during the time.
However, there were a few of his pieces that were rejected because of the dramatic intensity, which people viewed as vulgar. Some of his well-known for during this period include The Madonna of the Grooms, and the Death of the Virgin.
Judith and Holofernes
Two paintings from the Caravagesques that are most intriguing to me were Judith Slaying Holofernes by Artemisia Gentileschi and Judith Beheading Holofernes by Caravaggio. Caravaggio’s painting, was the main inspiration of Artemisia’s. Both have the same Holofernes, but different interpretation of Judith, and different accomplice. The lighting differs too; I imagine that Artemisia’s lighting effect came from a lamp, while Caravaggio’s from the day light that went through a window. Different feeling.
Anyway, Caravaggio’s Judith reminds me of Boticelli’s Simonetta. That nose. That face.
Judith Slaying Holofernes (1614–20). Oil on canvas. By Artemisia Gentileschi.
Judith Beheading Holofernes by Caravaggio. Created: circa 1598-1599.Artemisia Gentileschi
Artemisia Gentileschi painted many pictures of strong and suffering women from myth and the Bible – victims, suicides, warriors. Artemisia was raped by a painter that her father hired to tutor her. The trauma of the rape and trial impacted on Artemisia’s painting. Her graphic depictions were cathartic and symbolic attempts to deal with her pain. Her style was heavily influenced by Caravaggio.
Here are some photos from the exhibition:
Immaculate Conception, Jusepe de Ribera. My most favourite piece of Caravagesques.
Diogenes by Giovanni Battista Benaschi (1636–1688). I was attracted by the metal frame first, painting then. Two perfect masterpieces. -
Happy Deepavali 2016
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Peter Rabbit Garden Cafe by Rakeru, Tokyo
As a big fan of Beatrix Potter and her creation, Peter Rabbit, going to its cafe is a must, so I did that on my second day in Tokyo with my friend Mazni and her daughter, Nadya.
This cafe is situated in the Jiyugaoka area, a stylish neighbourhood in the southern part of Meguro-ku.
Arriving at this cafe, the first thing that I noticed was the beautiful alfresco garden setting. I ran up the stairs and opened the cafe’s door excitedly, just like a little kid entering a wonderland. It was truly a fantastic feeling.
Tell me how would you feel seeing a cafe like this? Amazing, right?Once inside, we helped ourselves to a table. The setting is very English, of course, to honour Beatrix Potter, the well-known English writer, illustrator, natural scientist, and conservationist best known for her children’s books featuring animals, such as those in The Tale of Peter Rabbit.
On the table, there were two copies of Peter Rabbit books (in Japanese), a jar of wrapped cube sugars, a pitcher of plain water, drink glasses, as well as a little bell to ring. There was also Petter Rabbit waiting for us.
Peter Rabbit and Dina.
We invited Flopsy Bunny from the next table to join us.We ordered two coffees (with Peter Rabbit art), hot chocolate, and Doubleberry French Toast Casserole. Everything was nicely presented and we went oohs and aahs eating the yummy casserole. The coffee and chocolate were good too.
We spent more than two hours at the cafe just enjoying the surroundings while taking photos and videos.
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How to eat your ramen
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Japan in summer
To sum it all, my summer Japan trip was great; I learned about the things that Japan has to offer in summer. Although my list is not comprehensive, below are the things that I came across:
Edogawa Hanabi Matsuri
One of the many firework festivals that I attended was Edogawa Hanabi Matsuri. This year the Edogawa Fireworks Festival turns 41 – making it one of the oldest fireworks festivals in Tokyo. The venue, Metropolitan Shinozaki Park point on the banks of the Edogawa River, is about half an hour walk from Shinozaki Station. It was a very long walk but nonetheless I enjoyed looking at people along the way. Most local people wore the traditional yukata, summer kimono or jinbei.
Girls in traditional yukata.The fireworks display can actually be viewed from either side of the river; Edogawa (the side that I was at), and Ichikawa (opposite side), that is known as the Ichikawa City Nohryo Fireworks Festival.
Edogawa side.
Ichikawa side.
Yukata
In summer, most people wear yukata; a casual kimono-like garment worn during the summer. It’s unlined and usually made of cotton to make the fabric more breathable. Yukata are popular for dressing up for summer events like firework festivals. Yukata wearing dates back over 1,000 years to when they were worn by the nobility to and from their baths in the days before bath towels were used in Japan. Because yukata are much cheaper than silk kimono, they became very popular during the Edo period when there were strict laws that prevented people from living extravagantly.
Ayu, river fish
Grilled salted ayu, or sweetfish, is a staple at summer festival food stalls. Ayu, also known as Sweetfish, is abundant during summer time in Japan. When summer arrives, many Japanese go river fishing for Ayu, which has a sweet, distinctive flavour. Catching Ayu is prohibited from November to May, as a measure to protect the species, but becomes legal from June when the skin and bones are especially soft.Edo furin, wind-chime
Furin (Wind-chime): Introduced from China by monks and used to know the direction of wind and a charm against evil. The soothing sound of Furin is a symbol of summer. Japanese people enjoy that furin changes the wind into sound. Though most furins were made of bronze, glass furins appeared in the Edo period. Glassworks artisans in Nagasaki made furins and started selling them in Osaka, Kyoto and Edo (Tokyo).Summer hand-fan
The summer hand-fan are available abundantly during the summer. I got some free ones during the Edogawa Hanabi Matsuri. There are two types of fan that I came across: Sensu and Uchiwa. Uchiwa are the popular and common flat and ridged hand held Japanese fans made primarily of paper on a bamboo frame. Often the traditional fans were beautifully decorated with a simple art work or design. Although traditional, hand made uchiwa fans remain popular, modern day uchiwa fans are often mass produced from paper on plastic frames with advertising for local businesses, products or festivals printed on them. Popular motifs for the uchiwa include designs portraying cooling streams or breezes, bamboo leaves, goldfish and fireworks. Sensu, on the other hand, a fan that is made from pleated paper, silk, or other cloth, allowing it to be spread into an arc or folded into a neat, rectangular shape.Watermelon
One more thing that I could find easily in Japan during summer was watermelon! I even had a watermelon ice-cream that looked exactly like watermelon. Around the late June grocery stores and super markets start selling watermelons and it gives the feeling of beginning summer.Summer cicada
In Japan, the cicada is associated with the summer season. On my recent trip, I heard it at the park, and on the trees along the roadside. I like to think that the sound of summer cicada is melancholy, and it has been featured in literature. Cicada is one of the summer kigos in haiku (Japanese poetry). Matsuo Basho wrote in “Oku no Hosomichi”—At a quiet and empty temple in the deep mountain,
a cicada start to sing,
but its sound gets sucked into a rock.And here’s my take on Japan in summer in the form of haiku poetry:
Yukata colours
add joy to the green and blue,
cheeks flush a pink blush.
-Emila 2016Dazzling colour splash
lits up Edogawa sky;
Explosive summer.
-Emila 2016 -
Inktober 2016
I hope I can draw as many as I can, but at the meantime I have made 4 entries:
#inktober2016 #inktobermalaysia #emilainktober
A photo posted by Oh-Em-Y – Illustrator, MY. (@emilayusof) on
A photo posted by Oh-Em-Y – Illustrator, MY. (@emilayusof) on
