Mythology painting pictures. Presentation on the topic "mythological genre"

MYTHOLOGICAL GENRE

MYTHOLOGICAL GENRE(from the Greek mythos - legend) is a genre of fine art dedicated to the heroes and events about which the myths of ancient peoples tell. All peoples of the world have myths, legends, and traditions, and they are the most important source of artistic creativity in the early stages of their history, starting with primitive art (although the myths that formed the basis of the images known to us often have not reached us). But in eras when mythology was a living, comprehensive, constantly developing phenomenon, one of the foundations of popular consciousness, it could not stand out as a separate genre, different from others. The beginnings of M. arose in late antique and medieval art, when Greco-Roman myths ceased to be beliefs and became literary stories with moral and allegorical content. Actually M. formed during the Renaissance, when ancient legends provided rich opportunities for the embodiment of stories and characters with very complex ethical, often allegorical overtones (paintings by Sandro Botticelli, Andrea Mantegna, Giorgione, frescoes by Francesco Cossa, Raphael). At 17 – beginning. 19th century The range of philosophical, moral, and aesthetic problems reflected in the works of M. Zh. is significantly expanding, either serving to embody a high artistic ideal (paintings by Nicolas Poussin, Peter Powell Rubens), or coming closer to life (paintings by Diego Velazquez, Rembrandt), or creating a festive spectacle (paintings by Francois Boucher, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo). In the 19th century M.f. serves as the norm of high, ideal art (sculpture by Antonio Canova, Bertel Thorvaldsen, I. P. Martos, paintings by Jacques Louis David, Dominique Ingres, A. A. Ivanov), which in the academic salon art of the middle. and 2nd floor. century acquired the character of a cold and lifeless routine, which played a significant role in the revolt of young Russian artists in 1863. Along with the themes of ancient mythology in the 19th - 20th centuries. Themes of Germanic, Celtic, Indian, and Slavic myths became popular in art. In the beginning. 20th century Symbolism and Art Nouveau style revived interest in women's art. (Maurice Denis, M.A. Vrubel), which received a modern rethinking in the sculpture of Aristide Mayol, Antoine Bourdelle, S.T. Konenkov, and in the graphics of Pablo Picasso.

Myth and legends are closely intertwined with the everyday life of the average person. For a modern viewer, the narration of mythological stories in paintings seems commonplace, but connoisseurs who know the historical roots of the emergence of such a genre as ancient mythology in painting appreciate with particular reverence the art with which world artists approached the creation of images and scenes of life of fairy-tale characters of ancient mythology.

Peter Paul Rubens, Pan and Syringa, 1617. State Museum, Kassel, Germany

Myth in the Russian language meaning is “legend”. And so, ancient mythology. Why antique? Because antigues translates as “ancient” from Latin. Why in painting? Yes, because the artist’s vivid images and imagination endow the imaginary characters with a certain physicality and greater fantasy. Since the Renaissance, masters have drawn ideas from the plots of ancient mythology of Greece and Rome. In addition to the well-known trends, there was another branch here - pantheism. Moreover, the latter is more characteristic of Hellenic (ancient Greek) masters. “Pantheism” takes its name from the name of Pan - the god of nature, goat-like and excessively lustful. His images were always endowed, without embarrassment, with an erect phallus and were found in amulets, reliefs and statues of Greek palaces. The most familiar to contemporaries was Vrubel’s painting “Pan”. However, those paintings that come close to the “true” Pan come from the brushes of Poussin Nicolas (“Pan and Syringa”), Frans Snyders (“Ceres and Pan”) and many other authors.

Turning to the most common mythological legends, with heroes repeatedly found in children's and school books: Hercules, Medea and Perseus, Pandora and the Sirens, the viewer gets the opportunity and a certain thrill to contemplate plots based on ancient Greek and Roman stories. This theme is relished in the works of the Renaissance and Baroque and is especially expressive in Caravaggin motifs and the works of the students and followers of the great master. The technique in which fairy-tale creatures are painted is based on the play of light and shadow, with a muted background and bold light strokes of the main characters. This technique allows you to “pull” the characters to the foreground and create an even more depressing mood. But at the turn of the 19th century, when classicism took control of the palette, the mood of paintings with mythological themes changed towards light and warm colors (Gustave Moreau - “Apollo and the Nine Muses” and “Thracian Girl with the Head of Orpheus on His Lyre”, Gustav Klimt - “Pallas Athena”, Hans Makart - “The Triumph of Ariadne”, etc.).

The canvases become truly fabulous and rainbow-colored. Eroticism seeps into some works, a certain childishness into others, and allegoricalism into others. Moreover, allegory and personification in mythological stories are most often used by masters to convey their own perceptions. To create such plots, artists had to study ancient literature, looking for characteristic features of characters, and combining images with book narratives. And, besides, the inhabitants of the era when the paintings were painted had a high demand for such subjects. Artists did not always create for the benefit of their own passions, but rather contrary to them, painstakingly combining mythological creatures with earthly villagers and nature, intertwining their skill and the viewer’s wishes to see what is called a fairy tale in reality.

The myths of Ancient Greece are the exciting adventures of gods, heroes and evil creatures. They are interesting in every way.

This is entertainment worse than Hollywood blockbusters. And the opportunity to understand the completely different worldview of people of pre-Christian civilization.

We know about myths not only thanks to ancient authors.

Artists who lived before our era also actively created frescoes with mythological subjects. And some of them have survived to this day.

But for almost 1.5 thousand years, myths disappeared from art.

They reappeared in painting only in . In the 15th century, sculptures from the times of the Roman Empire (copies of works by ancient Greek masters) began to be dug up in Rome. Interest in Ancient Greece began to grow. It became fashionable and then mandatory to read ancient authors.

And already in the 16th and 17th centuries, myths were one of the most popular subjects in painting.

Mythological paintings for the modern viewer

When you are in a museum, you are unlikely to linger for long in front of paintings with mythological subjects. For one simple reason.

We are little familiar with the myths of Ancient Greece.

Yes, we know Hercules. Have you heard about Perseus and Andromeda? And let’s name a couple of ancient gods like Zeus and Athena.

But who now can boast that they have read at least Homer’s Odyssey? I read it myself only when I was 30 years old.

And if you don’t understand the plot of the picture, it will be difficult to enjoy it. Because a barrier will arise in the form of bewilderment, “Who are all these people?”

But if the plot is clear, then the picturesque features of the picture are immediately revealed before our clear-eyed eyes.

This article is a small collection of mythological paintings.

I will help you first understand their heroes and symbols. And then we will enjoy all the advantages of these masterpieces together.

Botticelli was the first in the history of European painting (after the ancient Greeks and Romans) to depict mythological heroes.

Botticelli's mythological paintings are sometimes unflatteringly called pictorial comics. The heroes stand in a row. They don't interact with each other. All that remains is to add speech bubbles.

But it was Botticelli who was the first, 1.5 thousand years later, to depict myths. So he can.

Moreover, this arrangement in a row does not prevent the same “Spring” by Botticelli from being one of the most beautiful paintings in the world.

“Spring” is also one of the most mysterious paintings. There are many interpretations of it. I chose the one that personally seems most plausible to me. And she supplemented it with her own thoughts.

2. Titian. Bacchus and Ariadne

After Botticelli, many artists depicted myths during the Renaissance. But the most prolific was Titian.

His myths are completely different. These are already specific stories, like “The Meeting of Bacchus and Andromeda on the island of Naxos.”

These are also impetuous movements, like the leap of the god of wine from a chariot to the feet of a beauty. These are emotions expressed in poses, such as Andromeda's surprise and fear. And also a realistic landscape, which is the background for the heroes.

3. Rubens. Perseus and Andromeda

After Titian, mythological paintings finally came into fashion. The artists of subsequent generations learned all the lessons of the great master. But they made the compositions much more complicated.

The same Rubens literally “pushed” his heroes’ bodies together. And before us is an incredible interweaving of arms, heads and legs.

This is why it is so difficult for us to enjoy mythological paintings of the 17th century. Not only are the plots not always known, but all the characters also need to be seen.

So, the golden time of mythological paintings is the 16th-17th centuries.

In the 18th century, they were slightly displaced by the quite earthly and sweet beauties of Rococo.

And by the end of the 19th century they were replaced by realism and impressionism. Myths have finally gone out of fashion.

But mythological paintings still hang in museums. After all, they are a very important cultural layer. And only small gaps in our knowledge prevent us from fully enjoying them.

Mythological genre

(from gr. m уthos - legend) - a genre of fine art dedicated to events and heroes about which the myths of ancient peoples tell. All peoples of the world have myths, legends, and traditions, and they constitute the most important source of artistic creativity. The mythological genre originates in late antique and medieval art, when Greco-Roman myths ceased to be beliefs and became literary stories with moral and allegorical content. The mythological genre itself was formed during the Renaissance, when ancient legends provided rich subjects for the paintings of S. Botticelli, A. Mantegna, Giorgione, and frescoes by Raphael. In the XVII - early XIX centuries. The understanding of paintings of the mythological genre is significantly expanded. They serve to embody a high artistic ideal (N. Poussin, P. Rubens), bring people closer to life (D. Velazquez, Rembrandt), and create a festive spectacle (F. Boucher, G. B. Tiepolo). In the 19th century the mythological genre serves as the norm for high, ideal art (sculpture by I. Martos, paintings by J.-L. David, J.-D. Ingres, A. Ivanov). Along with the themes of ancient mythology in the 19th-20th centuries. Themes of Indian myths became popular in art. At the beginning of the 20th century. symbolism and Art Nouveau style revived interest in the mythological genre (M. Denis, M. Vrubel). It received a modern rethinking in the sculpture of A. Maillol, A. Bourdelle, S. Konenkov, and the graphics of P. Picasso.

Mythological genre

Mythological genre

a type of fine art that draws themes from the mythologies of different peoples. The peculiarity of the mythological genre is the free interpretation of legendary plots. It developed in ancient art, and reached its peak during the Renaissance.

Large explanatory dictionary of cultural studies.. Kononenko B.I. . 2003.

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