It is easy to see that artist renditions of religious figures have become more cynical throughout the years. If one was to look at two pieces and compare them, both being four hundred years apart, it would be easy to see how the style and subject matter behind each piece makes them differ greatly, but on the same level, become somewhat similar. On the one hand, Correggio’s The Nativity is a beautiful and delicate piece, showing a glowing baby Jesus to a crowd of blinded onlookers. On the other hand, Francis Bacon’s Study After Velasquez’s Portrait of Pope Innocent X is a frightening look into the depths of the human psyche. There are many ways to compare and contrast these two pieces, but the most effective way would be to describe the subject matter, the design and techniques that helped achieve the mood of each piece, and ultimately, the viewer’s initial reaction to the subject matter.

In both pieces, a religious figure is presented as the main focal point, although they do not both reflect the same ideas to the viewer. In Bacon’s piece, we see a tormented and blood-spattered Pope seated in a bare throne, glowing from underneath the chair, while in mid-scream. This is a terrifying and disturbing image for the viewer to look at. This, when compared to Correggio’s piece, seems almost to be something based off a completely different idea. In The Nativity, the viewer is gazing upon a delightful and almost mystical scene. Once again, a glowing figure occupies center stage, Baby Jesus. This time, however, the figure is significantly smaller, and draws a small crowd. This piece can represent many things: new life, miracles, the beauty and wonders of the human body and mind, while Bacon’s piece seems to embody something completely different. This painting seems to show the viewer the deepest and darkest depths of a human mind, even if it is the mind of one so respected and revered. Looking at the difference in the two pieces, it is easy to see that the later piece, by Francis Bacon, depicts a much more sinister and dark piece, than Correggio’s painting, which simply shows the birth of Christ. Both artists have used many design techniques to create these two seemingly similar but opposite scenes.

As we was seen with the subject matter and underlying theme of each piece, it can be just as easy to compare and contrast between the pieces using the design and techniques that helped achieved what is seen when the pieces are examined. In Bacon’s piece, one dominant and lone figure is used to occupy the majority of the space, surrounded by very few details. This is used to show that the figure is alone in his suffering, moaning in despair to the invisible viewer, surrounded by very few details. This is used to show that the figure is alone in his suffering, moaning in despair to the invisible viewer. The Nativity, however, places its central point in the small baby Jesus, presented to be smaller than everything else in the piece, but the viewer’s eyes are still drawn towards it, due to several things. Firstly, there is a strong light emanating from the center, which leads the viewer’s eyes towards it, as well as the movement in the crowd around the baby. Secondly, the people around, including Mary, seem to be staring at the child, one onlooker is even blinded by the light. As in comparison with the rest of the painting, there is much happening to the sides, above and behind Christ. There are multiple figures around the baby, including a shepherd, and a group of angels above. Bacon’s piece has little to no additional details, save for the throne which the Pope is seated upon. The goal of each artist is to not only get a message across but to also make the viewer feel differently when looking at the piece.