Tuesday, February 16, 1999
Melancholy & Modernism
ART: Donato Creti paints perfection through his art
By Sandy Yang
Daily Bruin Staff
Viewing Italian artist Donato Creti’s paintings, it seems that
the title of the show, "Melancholy and Perfection," is only half
true. The depiction of human bodies in grand, godlike poses and the
subtle gestures that define elusive moods suggest perfection. But
melancholy is not an obvious feeling derived from the bright colors
and seductive poses in Creti’s work.
The title isn’t apparent until reading the short biography that
is presented on the walls of the exhibit. "Donato Creti: Melancholy
and Perfection" portrays Creti’s strive to perfect his craft in
capturing a figure that was well-composed, balanced and
aesthetically ideal. But as a result, Creti was prone to melancholy
due to the constant dissatisfaction of his work.
"He was aiming for the ideal human figure," says J. Patrice
Marandel, curator of the exhibit. "(They were) perfectly
proportioned figures, and he basically wanted to create objects of
great beauty to seduce the eye."
In this collection of Creti’s masterpieces, the work portrays
myths, allegories and moods that make use of Creti’s love with the
human body’s potential. Created between 1713 and 1721, the
mythological paintings deal specifically with scenes from the
Trojan War and mythical figures such as Jupiter and Juno.
Creti’s gifted touch was ideal for interpreting the grandeur and
perfection associated with mythological beings and stories through
his brush and oil paints. Consequently, Creti was famed in his time
for such renditions of bigger-than-life figures.
"He was known for painting mythological subjects and things of
that nature rather than being just another painter," Marandel
says.
Even renderings that portray non-mythological figures give
ordinary human figures mythical qualities just the same. Though
nude and semi-nude paintings are prevalent in Creti’s work and
expertise, clothed figures lend another reason to be awed at
Creti’s talent.
The colorful dresses, coats and shawls sport extravagant folds
that almost transcend its three-dimensional depiction, as Creti’s
skillful use of shadows juxtaposes with exceptionally bright colors
and light. Even paintings absent of color give the same voluminous
effect.
Though some paintings have a sparse background and others have
lush landscapes, human beings – their expressions, nature and
beauty – are always at the focus of Creti’s work.
Seen in a series of circular oil-on-copper paintings called
tondis, Creti painted the four virtues personified by women –
temperance, prudence, humility and charity – each depicting a
situation where the virtue is exercised. The subtle expressions and
gestures are always rendered with a delicate hand, but they also
skillfully capture the thoughtful expression as challenging to
portray, as in the painting "Girl Meditating."
Though Creti was renowned in his time during the era of the late
Baroque in Bologna, Italy, with prominent artists such as Guido
Reni and Giuseppe Maria Crespi, his work and name was not
successfully passed on to future generations until recently. Only
after the 1930s when his work was rediscovered had the later public
been given a chance to enjoy Creti’s vision.
"That happens all the time with artists of the past," Marandel
says of Creti’s modest posthumous fame. "Many of them are
forgotten. It just so happens."
Even in his own time, not all of Creti’s pieces were available
for public view nor were they painted with the artist’s own ideas
in mind. Creti, like many artists of the time, were hired to paint
what they were instructed to by their employers. All the paintings
in this collection were for one of Creti’s regular patrons, Marco
Antonio Collina Sbaraglia, one of the founders of Bologna’s
Institute of Science.
"Creti’s only influence was to obey," Marandel explains. "That’s
what artists of the past did. They never painted because they liked
the subject. They were asked to paint because of their skills in
certain areas and (painting figures and myths) was his skill."
ART: "Donato Creti: Melancholy and Perfection" will appear at
the Los Angeles County Museum of Art until April 12. Tickets:
adults $7, students and senior citizens $6 and children $1. For
more information, call (323) 857-6000.GENEVIEVE LIANG/Daily Bruin
Senior Staff
Donato Creti’s paintings are currently being exhibited at LACMA.
Creti is renowned for his use of the human figure in grandiose
positions.
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