Depicted in Pierre Auguste Cot's most famous painting, Commemoration of the deceased at the Camposanto, Pisa, a woman and her two children mourn the death of their husband/father. Painted in 1872, Commemoration of the Dead in the Camposanto of Pisa, highlights the Catholic church and the role it played in everyday life. This painting includes many practices from that period, as well as numerous Catholic practices, still used today. This painting includes numerous symbols and illusions, forcing the viewer to think and reflect. Cot himself was a French classical painter. Cot is best known for The Tempest and the Spring. Cot studied with many notable artists. These artists include Leon Cogniet, Alexandre Cabanel and William Adolphe Bouguereau (Rubin). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Cot began his career in 1863 when his works debuted at the Salon in Paris, France. During his short life, Cot became famous for his artistic abilities. Cot enjoyed a luxurious lifestyle and his artwork earned him critical acclaim. At the age of 46, Cot died. His fame and artistic exploits earned him a monument which can be seen in Bédarieux (Rubin). Although the Day of the Dead at the Camposanto in Pisa is not as famous or widely known, Cot's style and artistic abilities are evident in this painting. Some of Cot's most notable achievements include being made a Knight of the Legion of Honour, as well as his marriage to the daughter of Francisque Duret; a famous sculpture of this era (Rubin). Often, when we grieve the death of a loved one, we dress in black. The rationale behind wearing black refers to one's religion and views on death and the afterlife. Black, a symbol of mourning, is often worn at funerals or when mourning a death (Quartier, 31). It is also common for widows and family to continue to wear black for days or even weeks after the death. Dating back to the Roman Empire, mourners wore the color black, to symbolize the loss of a loved one. This tradition was adapted by Christians and continues to be a regular occurrence in the West. A medieval tradition, also depicted in this painting, requires a widow to wear a solid black veil (Quartier, 31). Wearing a black veil indicated the loss of a loved one and that the person was going through the grieving process. More specifically in the painting, the black veil indicates the loss of her late husband (Quartier, 31). In the East, however, many people wear white during mourning. This symbolizes purity and love for the lost. Wearing white during mourning often occurs in both Buddhism and Hinduism; although many have transitioned to black in modern culture. White funerals have occurred many times throughout history, including in Europe. A significant aspect of this painting is the white border on the widow's dress. In the Middle Ages, it was common for widows mourning the loss of their husbands to wear a white border around the edges of their arms. This indicated that the deceased was this woman's husband. The child held by the woman in the painting indicates the recent passing of her father. Although this baby is not a newborn, it is obvious that he is still quite young and no bigger than a toddler. This recent passing may be able to describe the tone of the painting, as this could be the first or second day of this family's passing. The family may still be dealing with the loss of a loved one, which sets the tone of this painting verymelancholy. As seen in this painting, the youngest child is wearing grey. Although the color white is normally associated with purity, it can be assumed that this child is wearing a shade of gray to symbolize his youth and innocence. The color gray could have been chosen, as the child has just faced death for the first time; stripping him of part of his innocence. Purity is important to the Christian religion, as one strives to remain pure until death, in which the soul should ascend to heaven. However, many believers often commit sins. This can be seen through the child's older brother and his mother. Cot's painting highlights the pain and humility of this day. The facial expressions on the woman's face create a very disturbing and disturbing feeling. It's as if the viewer can feel his pain and remorse. The painting relies heavily on shadows and darkness, providing the dark setting for this scene. Dressed in dark and gloomy colors, this family highlights the loss of a loved one. Cot's intention was to show both the sadness and love associated with All Souls' Day. Even though the family looks sad in the painting, the true nature of this day is to remember loved ones. Without love and remembrance, this day would have no purpose. An interesting aspect of this painting is the tomb itself. Made to form a cross, this tomb emphasizes Christian beliefs and ideals. The cross itself is a symbol of the Christian religion (McGrath 266). However, the cross predates Christianity. Before its Christian meaning, symbols drawn in hieroglyphics similar to the cross were used in ancient Egyptian religion. Ankh, Ndj, and Nfr are all examples of figures holding cross-like symbols in ancient Egypt (McGrath 266). The Ankh was associated with the goddess Sekhemt. Sekhemt symbolized life and living (McGrath 266). This symbol was soon taken up by Egyptian Christians, who began to incorporate it into their religious beliefs. From this point on the cross began to appear in early Christian paintings. By the 3rd century AD, the cross, as it is known today, was readily used by the Catholic church as a symbol of their religion. Behind the tomb, among the trees, there is a celestial light radiating from the sky. This angelic scene is not obvious at first glance. Disguised in a clump of trees, this celestial image presents an interesting scene. It seems that this ray of light takes the place of the father in this painting. The position seems to indicate that this celestial scene somehow represents the presence of the father within the painting. This scene consists of trees shrouded in thick fog through which beams of light emerge. This illusion takes the place of the father and gives a lighter and happier feeling than the rest of the painting. Looking at the rest of the painting, the viewer feels discouraged and discouraged. This scene provides a sense of divine intervention within this piece. As for the All Souls Day, it seems that this scene in the background represents the father's ascension into heaven, which is the purpose of the All Souls Day. Cot uses shading to emphasize certain aspects of the painting. The parts of the painting with more light attract the viewer's attention, while the areas with less light seem to blend into the background. Although areas of less light appear to fade into the background, there are important aspects of the painting hidden in the darkness. Behind the family there are other tombs, similar in structure, with live lamps precisely the one in the foreground. The background also incorporates the forest scene, which depicts a celestial glow descending from the sky. Single women during thisperiod they were not wealthy. In the 1800s, it was very difficult for women to earn an income on their own, but at the same time earn an income to support two more children. During this time period, women didn't have many options. Women would need to remarry a man who can provide for them and their family; although it would be difficult to find a man who would marry a woman with children (Smith). Without a man to provide for her, this widow may have no money and may not be able to provide for her children on her own. During this time it was believed that women belonged in the home. Men often believed that women had a sphere of influence exclusively in the home. Because ofAccording to this belief, work for women was scarce and not well paid (Smith). This painting showcases and is inspired by the idea of ​​human mortality. The death of a loved one can reveal how vulnerable and fragile the human body is. This reminds the viewer that life should be appreciated and enjoyed. Painted in 1872 and set in Italy, this painting emphasizes the power of the church. Painted in a time that showcased divine authority, the Catholic church possessed immense power and authority over ordinary people (McLeod). During this period, the Catholic Church was able to dictate the daily lives of those living under its influence. Italy was the homeland of the Catholic Church, as the Pope and the most important figures of the Church lived in Rome. These figureheads exercised dominion and power over those living in Italy and those practicing Catholicism around the world. Christianity, the world's largest religion, dates back to the birth of Jesus Christ and the beginning of the common era. Since then, Christianity has become the most widespread religion in the world, with almost two billion followers (McLeod). In 1872 Catholicism, which is a sect of Christianity, had much more power over the individual. Although new sects were gaining attention, Catholicism still had a large following. The Day of the Dead at Pisa Cemetery was painted towards the end of Cot's life in 1872. This was also a period in which the Catholic church was able to wield immense power in Europe. However, by this point, Protestantism was a notable rival to the Catholic church. A few hundred years earlier, a Christian sect had emerged, founded primarily by Martin Luther (Haupt). This new religion quickly gained momentum and was quickly adopted in Germany and, soon after, in Great Britain (Haupt). These two powerful nations truly represented the power struggle of the Catholic Church. Although Catholicism remained strong in most of Europe, Protestantism showed the need for reform within the Catholic church. When Cot painted All Souls' Day in the Camposanto of Pisa, the Catholic church was still extremely powerful. In the mid-1800s, the Catholic Church declared war on liberal Georgia, starting a culture war between Georgia, Germany, Italy, Belgium, and France (Haupt). Even though the Catholic church was losing followers, it still remained strong, with loyal followers. Catholics often have strict funeral practices (Quartier, 31). Those who wish to be buried at a Catholic site often must be devout Catholics. To be buried in a Catholic burial ground, you must be free from sin. By setting this painting in Italy, Cot provides a great deal of Christian, specifically Catholic, influence (Haupt). This influence is extremely evident in this painting. Figures such as the tomb and the title itself convey extreme Catholic practices (Haupt). The tomb itself is in the shape of a cross, which is one of the most recognizable and important Catholic symbols. The name of the work,All Souls' Day at Camposanto, Pisa, depicts a Catholic holiday, All Souls' Day, and highlights the spiritual and emotional significance of this day within the Catholic Church. The setting of this painting is at the Composanto in Pisa, Italy. The Composanto itself is part of a very large church, the Pisa Cathedral, and for many years was used as a cemetery. The Composanto is a famous cemetery in Pisa. Translating the name into English, the Composanto means "Holy Camp". Built after the Third Crusade, the Composanto housed many tombs and bodies. In the background of the painting you can see the exterior of the Composant. Some of the oldest tombs date back to 1360. Illustrious minds have ventured to Composanto. Galileo Galilei went to the Composanto and calculated the pendulum motion using a small incense lamp. At the Comoposanto there are also 84 Roman sarcophagi. These elaborate tombs are truly unique and ancient. There were numerous frescoes painted throughout the Composanto over the years. The first dates back to 1360. An interesting aspect of the Composanto lies in its construction. The sacred land of Golgotha, the place where Jesus Christ was crucified, was brought to Composant during the Crusades. Regardless of whether the afterlife is real or not, All Souls' Day allows living relatives of the deceased to remember and recall fond memories regarding their past loved ones. those. This practice also allows the living to receive gratification, as they feel as if they have helped their loved one's soul ascend to a better place. Currently featured at the Appleton Museum of Art, this painting depicts an annual ritual known as All Souls' Day. This annual tradition, practiced by Roman Catholics, aims to shed light on the deceased. The light, depicted by the lantern hanging on the tomb, is intended to guide souls to salvation in heaven (Holms, 611). Looking into the background of the painting, the viewer can see several other candles and lanterns lit in remembrance of loved ones. All Souls' Day is a day of remembrance in the Catholic religion. This is a day when families gather and remember those who were lost and pray for their ascension into heaven. Similar traditions are practiced all over the world. With minor differences, the overall goal and purpose of these practices around the world are very similar to those of All Souls' Day. The Day of the Dead tradition is similar to that of the Day of the Dead practiced in Central and South America (Amoruso). Both practices intend to remember the deceased, however there are clear differences between the two. The Day of the Dead is primarily practiced and was founded in Europe, while the Day of the Dead is in Central and South America. The focus of the Day of the Dead is on the soul's entry into heaven, while the focus of the Day of the Dead is remembering the lives of loved ones (Amoruso). On the Day of the Dead, it is common for descendants to dine in cemeteries and cherish the memories of the deceased (Amoruso). Altars are often created in memory of family members with images and food offerings. Both ritualize eternal life, however All Souls' Day is often more reserved, while All Souls' Day is a celebration (Amoruso). Many religions have similar concepts to All Souls' Day. Even today, many similar practices occur in Japan, India, China, and around the world (Holms, 611). The Japanese practice the Bon Festival, a famous festival that honors their ancestors (Ashikaga, 217). This three-day festival was created by Maha Maudgalyayana, a prodigy of Buddha (Ashikaga, 217). Alongside the Bon Festival, people who honor the graves often perform a dance, known as Bon Odori (Ashikaga, 217). This dance is intended to overwhelm the dancer with.