Analyzing Stylistic Differences

Practice in art refers to the decisions and actions that affect choices, perceptions, and ways of working and views of an artist or art historian. Throughout history, it is seen through painting techniques, style, and subject matter, that artists are often influenced by previous artists and artistic movements. In the painting of James Buchanan by G.P.A Healy, Healy paid close attention to detail in his use of meticulous brushstrokes and symmetrical positioning of figures within the painting His way of portraying James Buchanan is typically utilized in order to show wealth, education, and power. Because of these traits, it appears that Mealy was strongly influenced by the Neoclassicism era. Todd Arsenault's painting, Untitled, uses loose brush strokes and large blocks of color, techniques often seen in impressionism painting. Grace Hartigan painting, The Music Box is completely abstract and uses large undulating lines, with pastel colors of splattered paint. Hartigan's artwork has many similar qualities to Kadinisky works in the Fauvist movement. Although G.P.A Healy, Todd Arsenault, and Grace Hartigan approach to their paintings are unique certain aspects of subject matter, style, and technique emulate other artists and artistic movements, showing how influential art work is in the art world.

G.P.A Healy's painting of James Buchanan was a portrait that was painted to show his status, wealth, and his education. The setting in which James Buchanan is set in expresses the overall purpose of the painting. The background of the painting is a large forest and a considerable amount of land showing that he is wealthy enough to own a substantial amount of property. The large pillar, red drapery and velvet green chair display his riches and status. He is standing on what appears to be an oriental carpet, portraying his wide range of taste, customary to a well-traveled man. Behind the pulled curtain is a sculpture of a man on horse, perhaps showing his military experience. There is also a surplus amount of books showing his broad education and also that he has leisure time due to the fact that he is well off. The title of one of the books is "State Papers," displaying his political influence. Healy painted the portrait of James Buchanan to accentuate his wealth and rank in the political world for the general public. It was painted after he died perhaps in remembrance of Buchanan's positive political contributes to the United States.

G.P.A Healy's painting of James Buchanan could be said to be a very close replicate of portrait paintings in the Neoclassicism era. During the 18th and 19th century in European art, the predominant movement of art was "Neoclassicism." Neoclassicism reflected a desire to express an admiration of classical art from ancient Greece and Rome. Pompeo Batoni's painting Thomas, First Lord Dundas is an example of a typical portrait painting in the neoclassical style. The painting depicts a scene of Thomas Dundas in the Belvedere courtyard of the Vatican. Batoni portrays Dundas in what appears to be in classical setting; he is surrounded by sculptures of the Laocoon and other sculptures from antiquity. The classical column behind Dundas is another presentation of his wealth. Batoni paints with tight brushwork and uses classical themes within his painting to show his attempt in replicating a scene from antiquity. It is evident that G.P.A Healy was strongly influenced by the neoclassical style because of the similar qualities that the two portraits share. Both paintings portray a wealthy man that is dressed to display their wealth.

Todd Aresnault's painting, Untitled, is a painting of a city. Aresnault uses large, loose brush strokes and blocks of clashing colors, perhaps to show his anxiety of living in a large city. The electrical lines that break up the composition show that the painting is a contemporary painting of a city. The brush strokes show the fast pace and demanding lifestyle that an urban setting brings. The disappearing road shows the immensity of city dwelling. The painting is filled