Diego velazquez surrender of breda analysis

Velazquez, The Surrender at Breda

Giotto, Kiss of Judas

Comparative Analysis

Artists can pass their messages to their audience through different paintings that they can do. With the paintings, artists can craft them in a specific manner that creates uniqueness and originality in their pieces of work. The pieces are unique and crafted in a particular way so that the artists can be able to retain the rights of the specific painting. Even though the pieces of paintings are unique from one artist to another, they have some elements that can be compared to each other. Paintings maintain a standard method of delivering the message, which guides the artist on how to make the paintings. Also, the contrasts in the different paintings are brought about by the uniqueness and the creativity that is embraced by the painters. Artists have to embrace creativity so that their work can be unique. Taking into consideration the painting of Diego Velazquez "The surrender of Breda" and Giotto's "Kiss of Judas" painting, one can discern the similarities and differences that are present in the two paintings.

The Giotto's painting "Kiss of Judas" reflects the betrayal story of Jesus and Judas. The painting is made in a manner that the painter wants to portray the scenario when Judas was about to kiss Jesus and betray him. Within the picture, Judas's broad yellow cloak almost swallowed up the body of Christ. It was the same cloak he had worn when he had paid for his betrayal. The other people around Jesus and Judas are seen to be looking at the pair in a glare face. On the surrender of Breda painting, it is evident that the painting is built on a military background. This is because the painting has men who are in possession of spears and a horse which symbolizes war. The two main men in the painting are seen exchanging key that is potentially the key that led to the surrender of Breda in the war that the two sides engaged. The painting depicts the traditional military men who depended on spears and horses while in the war. The painting is made in a manner that the battleground is evident. In the background, the smoke in the clouds passes the message about how the battleground was until when Breda surrendered (Bassegoda, 2014).

The two paintings contrast the way they are painted. Both painters used oil to make their paintings. The two paintings also contrast the nature of the paintings. They both involve men who are from two different groups. Furthermore, the two paintings have central individuals who form the central theme of the two paintings. Also, the painters made use of the same material as a medium for their construction. The painters made use of the Fresco material. They used the fresco material because it is suitable for making oil paintings (Giotto, 2015)

On the other hand, the paintings have differences between them — one of the differences in the colors that are used. Giotto used bright colors to make his painting, while Velazquez used dark colors than Giotto. The colors used by Velazquez symbolize the war that was there before the Breda agreed to surrender and hand over the keys. The bright colors the Kiss of Judas painting are sued to symbolize the environment in which Jesus was crucified since it was in a religious place. Another difference between the two paintings is the genre in which they represent. Giotto's painting represents the religious genre, while the Velazquez painting represents the war genre. The genre for the two paintings is determined by the messages that each painting carries and also the title of the painting.

References

Bassegoda, B. (2014). A Graphic Source for «The Surrender of Breda» by Velázquez. Locus Amoenus, 12, 107. doi:10.5565/rev/locus.7

Giotto, G. (2015). The Kiss of Judas. The Judas kiss. doi:10.7765/9780719098253.00014