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Inbound 1042347505150286497
Inbound 1042347505150286497
Source of subject (nature, history, Greek and Roman mythology, Judeo- Christian
tradition, sacred oriental texts, other works of art)
Source of subject
The term “source of subject” in art refers to the inspiration or the origin of the theme or
concept that the artist chooses to depict in their work. It’s essentially the idea or topic that
the artwork revolves around.
The source of the subject matter can be derived from a wide range of areas such as;
1. Nature: Artists often draw inspiration from the natural world around them, depicting
everything from landscapes to animals.
Examples: Claude Monet’s “Water Lilies”
At this triptych’s center, lilies bloom in a luminous pool of green and blue that is frothed
with lavender-tinged reflections of clouds. Thick strokes in darker shades seep into the
left panel, while on the right, sky and water are gently swallowed by an expanse of
reddish-green vegetation. Claude Monet. Water Lilies. 1914-26 |
Picasso’s painting is based on the events of April 27, 1937, when Hitler’s powerful
German air force, acting in support of Franco, bombed the village of Guernica in northern
Spain, a city of no strategic military value. It was history’s first aerial saturation bombing
of a civilian population.
Last
The Mona Lisa is a half-length portrait Supper, one
painting by Italian artist Leonardo da of the most
Vinci. Considered an archetypal famous
masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance, artworks in
it has been described as “the best the world,
known, the most visited, the most painted by
written about, the most sung about, Leonardo
[and] the most parodied work of art in da Vinci
the world”. probably
between
1495 and 1498.The painting depicts the story of Jesus at the Last Supper with his twelve
disciples. In this story, he tells them that he has been betrayed by one of them in the room.
Leonardo da Vinci shows the personality of each disciple with many religious themes.
3. Greek and Roman Mythology: The myths and legends of ancient Greece and Rome
have been a rich source of inspiration for artists throughout history
Example: “The Birth of Venus” by Sandro Botticelli
The Birth of Venus” by Sandro Botticelli is a painting by the Italian artist Sandro
Botticelli, probably executed in the mid 1480s. It depicts the goddess Venus arriving at
the shore after her birth, when she had emerged from the sea fully-grown (called Venus
Anadyomene and often depicted in art).
-Christian Tradition: Religious themes, stories, and figures from the Judeo-Christian
tradition are commonly represented in art.
Example: Michelangelo’s “The Creation of Adam” in the Sistine Chapel
The Creation of Adam (Italian: Creazione di Adamo), also known as The Creation of
Man[2],: plate 54 is a fresco painting by Italian artist Michelangelo, which forms part of
the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling, painted c. 1508–1512.[3] It illustrates the Biblical creation
narrative from the Book of Genesis in which God gives life to Adam, the first man. The
fresco is part of a complex iconographic scheme and is chronologically the fourth in the
series of panels depicting episodes from Genesis.
5. Sacred Oriental Texts: Sacred texts from Eastern traditions, such as the Vedas,
Upanishads, Tao Te Ching, and others, often serve as sources of inspiration for artists.
Example: The paintings of the Tang dynasty
6. Other Works of Art: Artists often draw upon the work of their predecessors, either as a
form of homage, critique, or reinterpretation.
Example: “The Scream” by Edvard Munch