Issues to
consider
One glance at the interior of this church should tell you that it was a
product of Protestantism. Compared to contemporary church interiors in
Catholic Europe, for example Il Gesu of Rome, the Oude Kerk interior is
austere,
almost empty. The relations between arts and contemporary values
of
the Netherlands would be an interesting topic of investigation. The
Reformation caused the removal of art from important places, like the
church interior. Previously art had been used to teach moral lessons. Why
do you think that art fell into disfavour with Protestants?
De Witte's painting of a church interior is a realistic depiction of
everyday life. How do you think that is reflects Dutch values? What can we
glean from it about how the Dutch lived their lives? Even paintings which
depict superficially mundane scenes can often reflect key traits of a
society.
Bibliography
Emanuel de Witte and Northern Baroque Art:
Architectural painting in Delft : Gerard Houckgeest, Hendrick van
Vliet,
Emanuel de Witte, by Walter A. Liedtke (Doornspijk, The Netherlands :
Davaco, 1982.) Art: ND1412.N43 L54 1982
Emanuel de Witte, 1617-1692. by Ilse Manke (M. Hertzberger 1963)
Art: ND653 .W58 M3
W. Liedtke, "DeWitte and Houckgeest - 2 new paintings from their years in
Delft," Burlington Magazine, v.128, 1986. p. 802-805.