Activity #2 essay

In 1791 American painter Benjamin West created an amazing oil on canvas, “The Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise.” Near the year 1520/1525 an artist name Quentin Massys, painted the “Ill-Matched Lovers”, also oil on canvas. Both paintings have elements of design that create two striking pieces of art that have similarities and differences.
Some similarities are the artist’s use of dark and light values. Value is the variation of lights and darks (92). Notice in Benjamin West’s piece the Angel, Adam, and Eve are painted in light shades of white and then it recedes to darker shades of grey and black. Shade is a color darker than the hue’s normal value (96). Quentin Massys employed dark and light values into his painting. Notice the man, woman, and thief are dressed in rich colors and than it recedes the dark background.
In Massys painting he employs complimentary harmonies. Complimentary Harmonies involve colors directly opposite one another on the color wheel (97). The man’s clothing is reds and greens, which are the most obvious pairings. The woman is dress in green and the accomplice in reds. In West painting the three main hues and shades are of orange, white, and black. Both artist have created colorful paintings and interesting paintings using elements of design.
Class Text. Living With Art
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