Demons Tormenting Saint Anthony

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Museum Assignment I
1. Why did you choose these two art works?
When we started covering 15th Century Art in Northern Europe, I was astounded by the differences that could be found in this art compared to that of the Early Italian Renaissance. One of the works that stood out to me the most was that of Martin Schongauer, Demons Tormenting Saint Anthony, c. 1480-90. This piece of art held so much meaning and passion behind it that I was constantly reminded of it in my everyday life. I chose this art work because it was different and unique; also because I could somehow relate to being the Saint Anthony in the piece.
When I entered the exhibit American Adversaries: West and Copley in a Transatlantic World in the Museum of Fine Arts –Houston I was amazed by the variety of art pieces and how they each portrayed different times, places and points of views regarding many different occasions. I took my time going from piece to piece, trying my best to analyze them and see if anyone of them reminded me of the long list that we had analyzed in class. I found myself to be completely speechless once I came across Jonas Suyderhoef, after Peter Paul Rubens, The Fall of the Damned, 1642. I didn’t understand why I was so amazed by the piece until I realized that it had many similarities to that of Schongauer’s. The piece got my attention from the beginning thanks to the details of the piece. It basically portrayed the war between good and evil; showing demons as well as angels in the piece.
2. Within your answers, name two scholars/ sources and their theories concerning the purpose and function of each art work during their cultural time period.
3. How are each art works’ purpose and function the same?
Demons Tormenting Saint Anthony by Martin Schongauer gives graphic form to what can be explained as a demonic possession. The viewer can perceive Saint Anthony as passive,
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