Art History Notes
1.)
Three levels of viewing a work of art
a.) FORMAL-What is the first thing you think when you look at a work of
art?
1.) Cool colors-blue, green, violet-add depth to a painting, make it
recede.
2.) Hot colors-red, orange, yellow- make it pop out, appear 3-D
b.) ICONOGRAPHY- ICON-“image” OGRAPHY-“study of”-subject matter
or story behind the painting.
c.) ICONOLOGY- what influenced the artist?
2.)
Proto-Renaissance-Before the Renaissance Period. Renaissance means
“rebirth’. The rebirth of classic Greek and Roman knowledge.
3.)
The art of classical Rome ruled until 400 A.D.
4.)
The painters tried to find perfection by using naturalism.
A.) “Naturalism”-looks like nature.
B.) “Realism”-depicts life as it really is.
5.)
Medieval artists did not look to nature and were considered by many to be
inferior. They wanted to take their art to a spiritual realm.
Proto-Renaissance Period
-There are 3 major reasons why this period began in Italy. Italy was the center of
Christianity, and all Europe (except Spain) was Catholic. Italy was the center of the
Mediterranean-it was the middle of the great trade routes and had large ports. It was
where the ancient classical thinking by the Greeks and Romans started.
-Two major artists of the Proto-Renaissance: Duccio (Doo-cho) and Giotto (Jah-toe).
-The Renaissance began in 1300. Duccio was the last of the Medieval Masters.
-The 2 major painting styles were:
a.) Fresco-used as paint on walls, applied while the plaster was drying, and was
used for broad sketches. Means “fresh” and cannot render a lot of details.
b.) Egg Tempera-used as paint on wood and held together great. Was made of egg
yolk, cannot paint broad strokes, or see through it.
Duccio
-The Maesta Alterpiece was Ducco’s masterpiece. In the Renaissance, the Virgin
Mary had almost as much power as Christ. Duccio’s hometown was Siena.
Siena had close ties with the holy Roman Empire as well as France. The
back of the Maesta contains different scenes from the life of Christ.
-The Betrayal-Duccio-1309-11-egg tempera-The figures are flat, there is no perspective,
all the figures are crowded together. He didn’t know about one light source,
therefore there are no shadows. He didn’t know how to make the ground
come out at you. Iconography is from the Passion Play (the time just before,
during and after the Crucifixion of Christ). This painting depicts three
different scenes: the betrayal, Peter cutting the soldier’s ear off, and Christ’s
disciples fleeing in terror.
-Entrance into Jerusalem-Duccio-1309-11-egg tempera- It shows a lot of space, it looks
vertical, like the donkey will fall off the picture. The figures get bigger as
you go back into the picture, like The Betrayal. The sky is gold, bright
colors are used, showing Sienan influence.
-Rucellai Madonna-Duccio-1285-egg tempera- Elongated flat figures, Madonna looks big
and bulky. The chair casts no shadows and he did not know how to stack
the angels.
Giotto
Hometown was Florence, Italy. He is the most influential artist in history, bringing art
from the Medieval tradition into the present. He took to heart the teaching of St Francis
of Assisi, who said “…look to nature…” His teacher was Cimabue, who was walking
through the woods and day and saw a shepherd boy drawing the flock. This was Giotto.
He loved Giotto’s work and took him on.
-Rucellai Madonna- Giotto’s re-work of the Duccio classic. He shows depth, perspective
and puts the light source on her chest. Madonna’s face is linear, her eyes big.
Baby Christ has an adult face. Giotto still paints a gold background.
-Arena’s Chapel-Giotto-1303-05-Fresco-This is his masterpiece. It is in the city of
Padua. He painted the interior. The chapel is broken down into three parts:
the top is scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary, the middle contains scenes
from the early life of Christ, the bottom is the Passion.
-Lamentation-Giotto-1305-Fresco-The moment after Christ is taken off the cross. All the
holy figures are crying, and there are 2 figures with their back toward you,
making it look like a foreground. The tree on the ledge makes it appear takes
your eye back to the body of Christ. There are big, bulky figures, the
background is blue, and he begins to show emotion in his figures.
Both Giotto and Duccio had numerous students. Florence is the seat of the Renaissance
due to the de Medici family, very wealthy, mafia-type-owned everything, had Europe’s
first library since Gothic times.
Simone Martini
Duccio was his master. He was from Siena. His figures are elegant.
-The Annunciation-Simone Martini-1333-egg tempera-Gabriel comes down and tells
Mary she is pregnant. Italian artists are not big on symbolism. There are
white lilies in the background. Words were written upside down so GOD
could see them. Flat figures were weightless. Frame was added later.