Examine the work the assumption of the virgin mary painted by peter paul rubens in 1626. give a brief description of the images, theme, setting, mood, colors, and technique used in the painting.

Images: The painting shows the images of the Virgin Mary, Mary Magdalene and her two sisters, her apostles, and angels.

Theme: This painting has a religious theme because it shows the Virgin Mary being guided toward a source of divine light by angels. Twelve apostles are gathered around her shroud. Some of them have their arms raised in amazement while others are kneeling over her discarded shroud.

Setting: The lower part of the painting represents Earth, where Mary’s apostles and sisters are gathered around her shroud. Angels are guiding her toward heaven. The top of the painting shows the divine light, which is her pathway to heaven.

Mood: There is a joyous feeling to the painting.

Colors: The artist used rich blues, reds, and browns against a pale blue background.

Technique: The faces are illuminated.

The Assumption of the Virgin Mary was painted by Peter Paul Rubens in 1626 in Antwerp, Belgium. Rubens is known for his Barroque style (also called Flemish Barroque). This style is charachterized by expressing movement, and in this work in particular it is accomplished by the movement in the Virgin's clothes that give the viewer the idea of an upward displacement. She is surrounded by angels that all seem to be in action. The upper portion of the peinting seems to have more light and air, while, in contrast, the lower potion of the painting is more saturated. The borrom portion is dedicated to the Virgin's tomb, which is surrounden by the twelve apostols and three women (one of them is thought to be Mary Magdalen). Every figure has a different mood and is executing a different action. Some of them are in dismay becouse of her death, others are in awe of her assumption, some are lifting the heavy stone of her tomg while others are looking up or trying to tough her clothes. There is an obvous contrast between the mood on earth which is more solemn and mourning, and the rejoice in heaven. There is great detail in the clothes, and light is used to emphasize some of the figures, specially the female ones.