Rendering 2 (Painting)

The article under study is taken from The Guardian. It was published under the headline "Federico Barocci: divinity in the details" by Michael Prodger on February 16^th, 2013.

A lot of comment is carried here on the works by Federico Barocci, an old Italian master whose paintings are now exhibited in the National Gallery, London. According to the author, Barocci was the most celebrated artist of his generation, but nowadays he is little known today outside Italy, especially because of religious orientation of his works which did not endear him to Protestant taste, and the distinctive style - fondant colour harmonies and an emotional sweetness. But today the National Gallery's exhibition, containing lots of his canvases, sets out to return him to notice, and – Michael Prodger asserts this – Barocci deserves it, for his contribution to art was significant. To prove the statement, the author produces us with some facts of the artist’s biography. Thus, it is interesting to note that Barocci was very kind and attentive to his sitters and always asked them if they were comfortable in the poses he had chosen for them. As for peculiarities of his work, the author notes that his degree of planning was unprecedented: he knew every inch of his painting before he painted it. Besides, Mr. Prodiger is evidently in favour of the painter’s feeling of colour, for, due to him, no figure in Barocci’s paintings wears just one colour, but always two or three to seduce the viewer into entering the scene.

 

In outspoken terms the author of the article stresses the importance of this exhibition in the National Gallery, that is also a resurrection, as Barocci’s sentiment and power are not incompatible and any amateur of art should know about the artist. I share this point of view and suppose such exhibitions must be often organized in order for modern people not to forget about talented people of the past; especially if they weren’t appreciated in their lifetime, there’d be a good chance for them to become acknowledged and admired nowadays.