In my visit to the Timken Museum of Art in Balboa Park, there was an exhibition of Christian art ranging from the Dark Ages to the Late Renaissance and early 17th century. Both era in Europe have the Roman Catholic Church as main topic for their art especially with the two Renaissance artists that I chose: Paolo Caliari and Bartolomé Esteban Murillo. Caliari's oil on canvas, Madonna and Child, Saint Elizabeth, Infant St. John the Baptist, and Saint Justina emphasizes the importance in the aspect of virtue, and the innocence of infancy as these child are to be ones who change history. The halo above Mary's head evokes an essence of divinity as she is the mother of God. This also sets a stage for the earlier days of the life of Jesus Christ. On the other hand we have a portrait of the Madonna and the Jesus as a child. Both pieces are similar regarding the essence of power the Madonna has due to the halo above her head in both pieces. These two pieces drew my attention with great interest due to the importance of the Roman Catholic Church in my culture, and especially the symbolism behind the Virgin Mary.
Two other pieces that I saw illustrate the fall of Jesus Christ and his Crucifixion establishing an end to his story. One was made in the 17th century called Christ on the Cross. The background behind Jesus invokes that the darkness and the tragedy that was his death. The skull on the foreground may be a symbol for the angel of death and that all who live must die. It also reinforces the aspect of sorrow and pain of his followers witnessing who they believed to be god dying. On the contrary however, this piece from the Middle Ages places an emphasis on the resurrection of Jesus Christ and how it creates proof that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and divine power over the universe seen through his halo on the top centerpiece. On his sides are the saints and angels that revere him as God. This piece differ from the former due to the positive tone it gives from the death of Jesus in contrast to the dreadful and sorrow tone of him on the cross.
