Allegory of War- Baroque

 

Allegory of War by Jan Brueghel the Younger

    
    This infamous painting was painted by Jan Brueghel at the end of The Thirty-Year War, in 1640. This war was the cause of over 8 million deaths across Europe. I love this photo and how there is so much going on and so much to look at. One thing the artist included was a great use of symbolism. There is a lot of weapons laid about within the photo to symbolize the countless deaths caused by this war. Also, there is a lot of animals fighting in this piece. The animals are there to signify zodiac signs, and another way to show the deaths that became due to this long battle. I love the colors used in this piece, the red really stands out to me as it is against a darker background, as well as a large contrast from the light colors used to show the sky. To me, this really shows how death and destruction are at the hands of humanity on earth and there is peace from the gods. Jan Brueghel also used the element of shadowing to create the look of a fire in the distance within the city. 


Mantegna, Minerva Expelling the Vices from the Garden of Virtue, circa 1500 (Louvre)



I want to compare this idea to an art piece from the Italian Renaissance. This painting also gives me similar feelings of death and destruction on earth, while the gods are at peace watching our demise. There is such a calmness in the sky and within nature, that's been untouched by man, while we are here destroying everything we touch. Although these two pieces of art give me a similar theme and emotions, the use of color is very different. This piece from the renaissance shadows creates a sense of light within the cloud and the colors are much brighter. 




Sources:

"Allegory Of War By Jan Brueghel The Younger". ART 200: Explorations In Art, 2017, https://fsmoesby.wordpress.com/2017/10/12/allegory-of-war-by-jan-brueghel-the-younger/.

Korey, Alexandra. "Virtues And Vices In Renaissance Art". Arttrav.Com, 2012, https://www.arttrav.com/it/virtues-and-vices-in-renaissance-art/.

Paul Getty Museum. “Jan Brueghel the Younger (Flemish, 1601 – 1678) (Getty Museum).” The J. Paul Getty in Los Angeles, J. Paul Getty Trust, 8 Mar. 2013, http://www.getty.edu/art/collection/artists/754/jan-brueghel-the-younger-flemish-1601-1678/.

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Comments

  1. UnknownFebruary 24, 2022 at 11:28 PM

    I actually contemplated choosing this artwork for my own blog post and now I’m glad that I didn’t. I also appreciate the amount of symbolism in the artwork. Though I did feel like the painting was a bit all over the place as there was just so much going on. My eyes aren’t really sure where to go. I would prefer it if instead of having the animals, people, and armor in their own separate spaces they were all mixed together a tad more. However I do love its theme of war and wars different interpretations presented in the painting.

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  2. NelsonFebruary 25, 2022 at 5:57 PM

    You can really see the death and destruction of the thirty-year war in the painting. With the foreground being covered in weapons, fighting animals, and bodies. The ruins, along with the birds fighting in the sky, seem to also frame the city in the background. This is such a beautifully executed painting, but it fills me with sorrow.

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  3. Amara SanbornFebruary 27, 2022 at 5:33 PM

    Madison,
    Thank you for sharing this piece and your thoughts on it.
    Personally, this is not my favorite artwork. Although the artist's colors and techniques to create the image are stunning, I'm not too fond of the moment captured. War is a devastating topic.
    As for your analysis, I think you did an excellent job selecting a piece of art related to an influence; by choosing an image that directly relates to the Thirty-Year War.
    When I initially viewed this artwork, I saw the animals but did not realize their importance until I read your writing, and I appreciate that you included the significance of these creatures. It is fascinating how the animals resemble zodiac signs. Do you know if Jan Brueghel was fond of zodiac signs, thus his reasoning for using them in his artwork?

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  4. BrandyeLynetteFebruary 28, 2022 at 7:23 PM

    Hi Madison,
    This painting shows a lot of pain and tragedy for sure. I love the color choice that Brueghel used in the painting, it makes it so easy for the viewer to see what's going on and really appreciate what he is trying to share. I also appreciate all of the texture added to the animals and the buildings so that it looks very much like you're seeing that view in person rather than in a painting.

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  5. Maya BowersMarch 1, 2022 at 3:58 PM

    The colors to me in this piece seem dull when compared to the Renaissance painting. I wonder if this is further symbolism of the impacts of war? It is very busy and as stated in earlier comments I don't where to focus my eyes. I do appreciate the amount of layering that Brueghel used, the landscape seems endless but also devoid of life.

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  6. Ashley ChavisMarch 3, 2022 at 7:54 PM

    This painting is super unique and honestly super relevant right now. I think its so interesting how everything on the earth seems to be at war. Even the birds are fighting other birds and the cats are sparring on the ground. In the second painting it seems like the presence in the clouds is watching down on the war happening on the earth. Possibly judging? The arm less woman kind of freaks me out a bit.

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