Visitation 1515

Jacopo Pontormo made this painting, titled "Visitation", in Florence, Italy during the early 16th century. It depicts the biblical scene of Mary's visit to Elizabeth, both pregnant, with Jesus and John the Baptist, respectively. But Pontormo’s Visitation also tells us about the social and political climate of Florence in the early 1500s. Pontormo, influenced by the political instability of the Republic, broke from classical conventions, to express the anxiety of the citizens of Florence, and a personal spiritual understanding. The dramatic intensity, irrational space and discordant colors, reflect the disquiet of the period, and the artist’s unique spirituality. By studying the history of Florence and Pontormo’s position within the artistic institutions of the time, we can see how art reflects and responds to social conditions. Researching the patronage, the political context, and the artist's biography helps us understand the deeper meanings embedded in "Visitation".