Depicted in Pierre Auguste Cot's most famous painting, The Day of the Dead at Camisanto, Pisa, a woman and her two children mourn the death of her husband/their father. Painted in 1872, All Saints' Day at Camisanto, Pisa focuses on the Catholic Church and the role it plays in daily life. This painting includes many practices from this period, as well as many Catholic practices, still used today. This painting includes many symbols and illusions, forcing the viewer to think and reflect. Cot himself was a classical French painter. Cot is best known for The Storm and Spring. Cot studied under many notable artists. Among these artists are Léon Cogniet, Alexandre Cabanel and William Adolphe Bouguereau (Rubin). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayCot began his career in 1863 when his works debuted at the Paris Salon, France. During his short life, Cot became known for his artistic abilities. Cot lived a luxurious lifestyle and his works earned him rave reviews. At the age of 46, Cot died. His fame and artistic achievements earned him a visible monument in Bédarieux (Rubin). Although All Saints' Day at Camisanto, 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 his appointment as a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor, as well as his marriage to the daughter of Francisque Duret; a famous sculpture of this era (Rubin). Often, when we mourn the death of a loved one, we wear black. The logic behind wearing black is linked to religion and the person's view on death and the afterlife. Black, a symbol of mourning, is often worn at funerals or during mourning (Quartier, 31). It is also common for widows and their families to continue wearing black for days or even weeks after a death. Since the Roman Empire, mourners have worn the color black, to symbolize the loss of a loved one. This tradition was adapted by Christians and continues to be common in the West. A medieval tradition, also represented in this painting, is for a widow to wear a plain black veil (Quartier, 31). Wearing a black veil indicated the loss of a loved one and that the person was going through their grieving process. More precisely in the painting, the black veil indicates the loss of her late husband (Quartier, 31). In the East, however, many people wear white while mourning. This symbolizes purity and love for those who are lost. Wearing white while mourning often occurs in Buddhism as well as Hinduism; although many have become black in modern culture. Many times throughout history, white funerals have taken place, even in Europe. A significant aspect of this painting is the white border on the widow's dress. In medieval times, it was common for widows mourning the loss of their husbands to wear a white border around their arms. This indicates that the deceased was the husband of this woman. The child held by the woman in the painting indicates the recent death of his father. Although this child is not a newborn, it is obvious that he is still quite young and no older than a toddler. This recent death could describe the tone of the painting, as it may be the first or second day of All Saints' Day for this family. The family may still be dealing with the loss of a loved one, making the tone of this painting very melancholic. As seen in this painting, the youngestchild wears gray. Although the color white is normally associated with purity, it can be assumed that this child is wearing a shade of gray in order to symbolize his youth and innocence. The gray color could have been chosen, because the child has just faced death for the first time; Stripping him of part of his innocence. Purity is important in the Christian religion, as one strives to remain pure until death, in which the soul must ascend to heaven. However, many believers often commit sins. This is seen through the child's older brother and his mother. Cot's painting highlights the sorrow and humility of that day. The facial expressions on the woman's face create a very disturbing and uncomfortable feeling. It's as if the viewer can feel his grief and remorse. The painting relies heavily on shadows and darkness, providing a 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 highlight both the sadness and love associated with All Saints' 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 meaning. An interesting aspect of this painting is the tomb itself. Designed 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. The Ankh, Ndj, and Nfr are all examples of figures bearing symbols similar to the ancient Egyptian cross (McGrath 266). The Ankh was associated with the goddess Sekhemt. Sekhemt symbolized life and living (McGrath 266). This symbol was quickly 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 third century AD, the cross, as it is known today, was readily used by the Catholic Church as a symbol of its religion. At the bottom of the tomb, among the trees, there is a celestial light bursting from the sky. This angelic scene is not obvious at first glance. Hidden in a group of trees, this celestial image presents an interesting scene. It seems that this beam of light takes the place of the father in this painting. The positioning seems to indicate that this celestial scene somehow represents the presence of the father in the painting. This scene consists of trees shrouded in thick fog with beams of light sticking out. This illusion takes the place of the father and gives a lighter and happier feeling compared to the rest of the painting. Looking at the rest of the painting, the viewer feels discouraged and dejected. This scene gives a feeling of divine intervention within this piece. When it comes to All Hallows' Day, it seems that this scene in the background represents the father's ascension to heaven, which is the purpose of All Hallows' Day. Cot uses shadows to emphasize certain aspects of the painting. The brightest parts of the painting attract the viewer's attention, while the less lit areas seem to blend into the background. Although less lit areas appear to fade into the background, important aspects of the painting are hidden in the darkness. Behind the family are other tombs, similar in structure, with lamps, just the one in the foreground. The background also incorporates the forest scene, which depicts a celestial glow descending from thesky. At that time, single women were not well off. In the 1800s, it was very difficult for women to earn an income for themselves, but they still earned income to support two additional children. During this period, women did not have many options. Women should either remarry a man who could provide for them and their family; although it is difficult to find a man who would marry a woman with children (Smith). Without a man to support her, this widow may not have money and may not be able to support her children on her own. At the time, it was believed that women had their place in the home. Men often thought that women had a sphere of influence only within the home. Due to this belief, women's work was rare and poorly paid (Smith). This painting highlights and builds on the idea of ​​human mortality. The death of a loved one can reveal how vulnerable and fragile the human body is. It reminds the viewer that life should be cherished and appreciated. Painted in 1872 and located in Italy, this painting highlights the power of the Church. Painted in an era that emphasized 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 who lived under its influence. Italy was the birthplace of the Catholic Church, as the Pope and the Church's most important figureheads lived in Rome. These leading figures exercised their dominance and power over those who lived in Italy and those who practiced Catholicism throughout 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 largest religion in the world, with nearly two billion followers (McLeod). By 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 very large number of followers. The Day of the Dead at Camisanto, Pisa was painted towards the end of Cot's life in 1872. This was also a time when the Catholic Church was able to exercise immense power in Europe. However, Protestantism was a notable rival to the Catholic Church at this time. A few hundred years earlier, a sect of Christianity, born primarily of Martin Luther, emerged (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 framed the Catholic Church's power struggle. Although Catholicism remained strong throughout most of Europe, Protestantism highlighted the need for reform within the Catholic Church. At the time Cot painted All Saints' Day at the Camisanto in Pisa, the Catholic Church remained extremely powerful. In the mid-1800s, the Catholic Church waged war against liberal Georgia, sparking a cultural war between Georgia, Germany, Italy, Belgium, and France (Haupt). Even though the Catholic Church was losing followers, it 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 cemetery, one must be free from sin. By situating this painting in Italy, Cot brings a great Christian influence, specifically Catholic (Haupt). This influence is extremely evident in thispainting. Figures like the tomb and the title itself reflect extreme Catholic practices (Haupt). The tomb itself is shaped like a cross, which is one of the most recognizable and important Catholic symbols. The name of the work, All Saints' Day at the Camisanto in Pisa, represents a Catholic holiday, All Saints' Day, and highlights the spiritual and emotional significance of this day within the Catholic Church. The setting for this painting is located at the Composanto in Pisa, Italy. The Componento itself is part of a very large church, Pisa Cathedral, and served as a cemetery for many years. The Composanto is a famous cemetery in Pisa. Translating the name into English, the Composanto means the “Holy Field”. Built after the Third Crusade, the Composanto housed many tombs and bodies. The exterior of the Composanto is visible in the background of the painting. Some of the oldest tombs date back to 1360. Famous spirits have ventured to the Componento. Galileo Galilei went to the Composanto and calculated the pendulum motion using a small incense lamp. In Comossanto there are also 84 Roman sarcophagi. These elaborate tombs are very unique and ancient. Many frescoes have been painted throughout the Component through the years. The oldest dates back to 1360. An interesting aspect of the Componento lies in its construction. The sacred land of Golgotha, the place where Jesus Christ was crucified, was brought to the Componento during the Crusades. Whether the afterlife is real or not, All Saints Day allows the living relatives of the deceased to remember and reminisce about fond memories of their beloved past. those. This practice also allows the living to receive gratification, because they feel that they have helped the souls of their loved ones rise to a better place. Currently on display 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 shine a light on the deceased. The light, represented by the lantern hung at the tomb, aims 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 commemoration in the Catholic religion. It is a day when families come together to remember those who have been lost and to pray for their ascension to heaven. Around the world, similar traditions are practiced. With minute differences, the general purpose of these practices around the world are very similar to those of All Saints' Day. The tradition of the Day of the Dead is similar to that of the Day of the Dead, practiced in Central and South America (Amoruso). Both practices aim to remember the dead, however, there are distinct differences between the two. All Saints' Day is primarily practiced and was founded in Europe, while All Souls' Day takes place in Central and South America. The purpose of the Day of the Dead is to allow the soul to enter heaven, while the Day of the Dead focuses on remembering the lives of loved ones (Amoruso). On the Day of the Dead, it is common for descendants to dine at cemeteries and cherish the memories of the departed (Amoruso). Often, altars are created in memory of family members with pictures and offerings of food. Both ritualize eternal life, but the Day of the Dead is often more reserved, while the Day of the Dead is a celebration (Amoruso). Many religions have similar concepts to All Saints' Day. To date, many similar practices occur in Japan, India, China and.