Paintings: The Maas at Dordrecht, Term Paper

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As in the other painting, light provides the interpretation of the picture, but whereas ships or individuals may serve as subject of Cuyp's painting, here light serves as the subjects of Turner's. Light from the full moon shines on the glittering water, with silhouetted ships (as in the other picture) framing the view. The other picture draws your eye to the centerpiece; here, Turner draws your eye out to sea and to the corners of the panting. Nature sweeps a clear elliptical path and becomes the centerpiece brushing ships and flame to the sides.

A palette knife conveys mood and atmosphere. Some areas, such as the silvery-white moon and the orange torchlight are painted more thickly than others, and unlike Cuyp's canvass which is smooth and polished, Turner's is rough and textured with the raised surfaces perfectly catching and representing the light and drama of the scene. Here, the paint is so thickly applied to the canvas, that the medium stands in relief and retains the mark of the brush and palette knife.

Both paintings are placed within an ocher / drab gold / metal burnished frame that excellently places the painting in relief whilst merging it with its background. The lighting of the room, oak paneled with dim but clear lighting works to the same effect. It is the painting that draws the eye whilst the background / lighting and room arrangement gives these paintings a somber therefore distinguished tone indicating their prominent place in history.

The works are typical of their ages in that attention -- the 16th century of Cuyps' painting was the start of the renaissance - has shifted to human activity, foremost of which is trading and the wealth of nations.

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Turner's romanticism marks the peak of Enlightenment. Politics is a centerpiece of national activity and, as contrasted with religious themes of a century or so ago, man takes the center stage, and it is now the dignitary, rather than Jesus or saints that occupy man's attention.

England, as too, Holland was known for their seafaring and trading activities. Barges, keels and ships transported luxury products as well as daily necessities from country to country and communicated with each other primarily via their ships. For England, this was the period of the Industrial Revolution, coal was the essential source of power, and flat-bottomed barges -- keels - as well s colliers transported this coal. Both colliers and keels are shown in Turner's portrait. The 19th century -- the height of the renaissance / enlightenment and the embodiment of man and his achievement - was the start of capitalism. War, political activity, international communication, economics, coal mining activity, trading were just some of the activities that were conducted via oceangoing vassals. It is that Cuyp and Turner represent in these two paintings.

Ultimately, then, commonality of the paintings can be found in more than just their subject. Both glorified the ability and power of man: the one humans' diplomatic and war faring activity, the other man's trading activity, and,….....

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