Comparison Between “Th Death of General Wolfe” by Benjamin West and “Lamentation by Roger Van Der Weyden.

Comparison Between “Th Death of General Wolfe” by Benjamin West and “Lamentation by Roger Van Der Weyden.

  • Submitted By: naster
  • Date Submitted: 12/29/2008 12:45 AM
  • Category: History Other
  • Words: 339
  • Page: 2
  • Views: 1087

The first thing that comes to mind when one looks at the paintings are that both of the paintings show death. Although the style and occasions are totally different. In Weyden’s painting, He shows Christ’s death while in West’s painting we see the last breaths of general Wolfe.Even thought they are both oil paintings, the vibe from them are very different. In Weyden’s painting, light and vibrant colors are used while in West’s painting, the colors are dark and depressing that gives a very depressing vibe that it was in the time of war. The colors used represented different things. The light and vibrant colors in Weyden’s painting represent hope and betterment of human kind. While in West’s painting the dark and gloomy colors represent despair, war and the death of their leader. Weyden’s painting was more or less symmetrical as the colors used where even through. But West’s painting was not symmetrical as the right side of the painting was darker than the left side. The focus points in both are a bit different. In Weyden’s painting the focus is the dead Christ while in West painting it is the dying General. Another similarity is the representation of death in both. In Weyden’s painting it came in the form of a scull near the bottom left of the painting, and in West’s painting it came in the form of the general’s fallen musket. Another difference between the two paintings is that Chris was portrayed in a very traditional way while the general was not. Most generals are portrayed in their armor but in West’s painting he was portrayed in simple clothes. The background in both painting is different too. Both paintings show great detail to backgrounds, however, in Weyden’s painting the background is beautiful scenery while in West’s painting the background shows the war that was continuing around them. Another similarity is that both paintings show people kneeing and morning.

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