Baroque Era- Fetti

     Domenico Fetti was an Italian Baroque painter who is well known for his representations of biblical parables as scenes from everyday life.  Fetti was born in 1588 in Rome, he was inspired by Caravaggio’s dramatic paintings as a young prosperous artist. He served as court painter to Cardinal Ferdinando Gonzaga who later became Duke of Mantua. During this time in Mantua Fetti created the painting, David with the Head of Goliath.  

Domenico Fetti (?Rome 1588/9-1623 Venice)
David with the head of Goliath
oil on canvas: 63¼ x 39 in. (160.7 x 99.1 cm.)

    This beautiful oil painting was completed in 1620 and is a depiction of the biblical story David and Goliath (1 Samuel, 17:48-51). Using a stone from his sling David, a young shepherd boy killed the champion of the Philistines named Goliath. David then decapitates him using Goliaths own sword. In this painting, Fetti captures the conclusion of the drama as David holds the severed head of Goliath in one hand and the massive sword in the other. David is portrayed as strong and confident, showing that he will soon be a great king of Israel. The gust of wind adds to the dramatic scene as it animates David’s hair and clothing.  Fetti uses great combinations of tone, he uses contrast of light and dark to help create this dramatic atmosphere. This piece exhibits key features in the baroque era – it captures a moment in time and has an emotional intensity within this scene. 





During the time this was created the Roman Catholic Church continued, in light of the Council of Trent, to follow a propagandistic stance that “art was to serve as a means of extending and stimulating the public’s faith in the church” (Brittanica, 2022). Fetti shows this stance in his painting by portraying the strength of David, inspiring others to acknowledge the power and divine intervention of God.

In this painting I enjoy the dark and contrasting tones, it makes the painting have a sense of reality for me. This piece gives me a great visual representation of what this scene looked and felt like. During today’s times this story in the Bible is made child friendly by some. Fetti brings to life this violent scene of great battle and triumph, leaving viewers impacted by the faith David has shown within this story. 



References

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Baroque art and architecture". Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Oct. 2022, https://www.britannica.com/art/Baroque-art-and-architecture. Accessed 13 October 2022.

Wennestrom, Nord. “Sweden's Nationalmuseum Acquires 17th Century Italian Baroque Fetti Painting ‘David with the Head of Goliath.’” Nord on Art, 28 Nov. 2014, https://nordonart.wordpress.com/2014/11/17/swedens-nationalmuseum-acquires-17th-century-italian-baroque-fetti-painting-david-with-the-head-of-goliath/.

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