The Seven Works of Mercy (Italian: Sette opere in Misericordia ), also known as The Seven Acts of Mercy , is an oil painting by Italian painter Caravaggio, circa 1607. The painting depicts seven compassionate works in traditional Catholic beliefs, which are a compassionate set of actions concerning the material needs of others.
The painting was made for, and still kept in, the church of Pio Monte della Misericordia in Naples. Initially, it was meant to be seven separate panels around the church; However, Caravaggio incorporates all seven works of mercy in one composition which became the altar of the church. The painting is better viewed from il "coreto" (small choir) on the first floor.
Video The Seven Works of Mercy (Caravaggio)
Iconography
The seven titular works of compassion are represented in the painting as follows:
- Bury the dead
- In the background, two men carry the dead (whose legs are visible only).
- Visit jail, and feed hungry
- On the right, a woman visits the imprisoned man and gives her milk from her breast. This picture is alluded to the classic Roman Charity story.
- Protecting the homeless
- A pilgrim (third from left, as identified by a shell in his hat) asks the innkeeper (far left) to take shelter.
- Clear naked
- St. Martin of Tours, the fourth from the left, has ripped his robe in half and given it to the naked beggar in the foreground, given the popular saint's legend.
- Visit the sick
- St. Martin greets and comforts the paralyzed beggar.
- Refresh the thirst
- Samson (second from left) drinking water from the jawbone of a donkey.
Maps The Seven Works of Mercy (Caravaggio)
Interpretation
American art historian John Spike notes that the angel at the center of the altar Caravaggio transmits grace that inspires humanity to be compassionate.
Spike also noted that Samson's choice as a symbol of Giving Drink for Haus is so strange that it demands some explanation. The frightening specter of the Philistines is a very flawed man who accomplishes his heroic tasks through the grace of God. When Samson was in danger of dying of thirst, God gave him water to drink from the jawbone of a donkey. It is difficult to make this miracle with the allegory of the Seven Acts of Secrecy because it is not really a human charity work.
Regarding the sharp contrast of chiaroscuro painting, the German art historian Ralf van BÃÆ'¼hren describes bright light as a metaphor for compassion, which "helps the audience to explore grace in their own lives". The current scholarship has also established a link between iconography "The Seven Works of Mercy "and the cultural, scientific and philosophical circle of the painting commissioner.
Adaptations
The Seven Works of Mercy was adapted for theater in 2016 by the Royal Shakespeare Company. Written by Anders Lustgarten, The Seven Acts of Mercy was directed by Erica Whyman, Deputy Artistic Director at Royal Shakespeare Company.
Note
References
- Ralf van BÃÆ'¼hren, Seven Works of Mercy "Caravaggio in Naples Relevance of art history with cultural journalism, in Church, Communication and Culture 2 (2017), pp. 63-87
- Alessandro Giardino, The Seven Works of Mercy. Love between Astrology and Natural Hearts of Attraction in Naples Tommaso Campanella, in Aries 17-2 (2017), pp. 149-70
- John Spike,
, with the help of MichÃÆ'¨le Kahn Spike (including CD-ROM with Catalog Raisonnà © Ã… ©), New York: Abbeville Press 2001 (2nd, revised edition 2010) - ISBN 978 -0-7892-0639-8 - Ralf van BÃÆ'¼hren, Die Werke der Barmherzigkeit in der Kunst des 12.-18. Jahrhunderts. Zum Wandel eines Bildmotivs vor dem Hintergrund neuzeitlicher Rhetorikrezeption (Studien zur Kunstgeschichte, vol. 115), Hildesheim/ZÃÆ'¼rich/New York: Verlag Georg Olms 1998 - ISBNÃ, 3-487-10319-2
See also
- Timeline by Caravaggio
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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