An exhibition entitled From Titian to Goya, which opened on June 28 at the National Art Museum of China, paints a picture of the development of European art from the 16th century to the early 19th century. Showcasing 52 works by European masters, it records the evolution of European art from the Renaissance to contemporary art movement and from the classical touches of Venetian School to the revolutionary trend of Spanish realism.
Among them, works by Spanish artists, selected from the collections of the Prado National Museum of Spain, are considered to be key to celebrate the Year of Spain in China, by demonstrating the different periods of Spanish art's development.
The works feature a variety of subject matters, such as portraits of famous and royal people, and portrayals of significant religious and historical events, mythological anecdotes, profane allegories, popular scenes, still life works and landscapes.
As an iconic figure of the Venetian School, Titian was celebrated for his tonal painting style and exploration of color. His work on show, Venus with Cupid and an Organ Player, is of the artist's general approach with Renaissance characteristics. The plump figure of Venus and the chubby face of Cupid form a stream of communication in harmony. The organ player, who looks back to the listeners, seems to also become involved with the intimacy of the two. Looking from the window, beautiful landscapes stretch between two lines of trees, above which the clouds of the sunset shines golden on the horizon.
Influenced by Venetian masters, El Greco, who settled in Spain, is regarded as the first great genius of the Spanish School. He was renowned for skillfully creating elongated images on altarpieces. The Baroque style peaked in the early 17th century with Velazquez and Rubens among the shining stars of this romantic period. Van Dyck followed his tutor Rubens to make great contributions to portraiture. Poussin, Lorrain and Georges La Tour returned to classical and academic art during the 17th century. Known for his luxuriously decorative style, Boucher was a supreme student of Rococo of the 18th century.
Goya is recognized as the first great painter of the 19th century and the pioneer of contemporary European painting because of his focus on revolutionary subject matter. He fills his fames with inventiveness and dark obsessions to produced mysterious effect and despairing mood. But the work on display, named Parasol, shows how the artist's palette is brightening and reveals his careful attention to lighting. The woman under the parasol sits in a brown-tone shadow - the result of sunshine reflecting from her cheek and neck. The young man, who hold the parasol behind her, stands in the classical S-shaped posture. The focus of the tableau is the green color of the parasol, which is echoed by the trees behind the two figures.
Established in 1818, the Prado National Museum of Spain progressively expanded its wealth of treasures through the incorporation of works of different provenance since its opening.
After its Beijing debut, the show would tour Shanghai in the following month.
20 yuan. 9am-5pm, until Jul 9. National Art Museum of China, 1 Wusi Dajie, Dongcheng District. 6401-7076. 中国美术馆, 东城区五四大街1号
(China Daily 07/04/2007 page20)
