ARTH 104 Exam 1 (Set 2)

Opus anglicanum

"English work", pictorial needlework using colored silk and gold thread embroideries

The Black Death

-(1331 - 1430) popular name for the bubonic plague and one of the greatest medical disasters in Europe (and then spread to Asia; mid-14th century).

Gothic Art in Italy

-13th century was pd. of political division and economic expansion for Italy -Particularly in northern Italy, organizations of successful merchants created communal govts. in their prosperous/independent city-states and struggled against powerful families for political control -Artists began to emerge as independents

Reliquary

-A container where religious relics are stored or displayed (especially relics of saints)

Pulpit

-A podium used for preaching -Nicola Pisano

Plate tracery

-A technique where holes are cut into the stone of the wall and filled with stain glass

*Giornate

-Adopted from the Italian term meaning "a day's work," it is the section of a fresco plastered and painted in a single day

*"Virgin and Child", from St. Denis, France (c. 1339)

-Donation to abbey church of Saint-Denis in 1339 -Donor: Queen Jeanne d'Evreux (same owner as Book of Hours) -Form: --Made with silver gilt and enamel -Relevant terms: --Reliquary: a container where religious relics are stored or displayed (especially relics of saints). The sculpture of Virgin and Child adorns reliquary (w/ strands of Mary's hair) --Fleur-de-lis: on top of scepter; it is a symbol of French monarchy --Relic: a sacred object, placed in a church; the sculpture/reliquary had religious function and not just valued for naturalism/humanism style (describes tension btw old and new) -Content: --Virgin holds Jesus in left arm w/ her weight on left leg, standing in a graceful, characteristically Gothic S-curve pose --Has some medieval elements- particularly concerning hierarchy of Virgin Mary (considered queen of heaven, mother of Christ) --Another medieval element- relationship to contemporary concerns about politics, royal power and hereditary power --Virgin Mary is shown as a queen; regal, in addition to being a compassionate/sweet mother --Christ Child is babylike in both form and posture --On base (reliquary), minuscule statues of prophets stand on projecting piers to separate 14 enameled scenes from Christ's Infancy and Passion, reminding us of suffering to come --Apple in baby's hand carries theme further w/ reference to Christ's role as new Adam, whose sacrifice on cross- medieval Christians believed- redeemed humanity from first couple's fall into sin when Eve bit into forbidden fruit -Context:

Rise of Urban and Intellectual Life

-Gothic pd. was era of both communal achievement and social change -towns gained increasing prominence; they became important centers of artistic patronage, fostering strong communal identity by public projects/ceremonies -Paris intellectual center of Europe -System of reasoned analysis known as scholasticism emerged

Nicola Pisano's Pulpit at Pisa

-Gothic trefoil arches (also work to provide a platform for 6-sided pulpit) -Panels forming the pulpit enclosure illustrate New Testament subjects (each framed as independent composition) -Each panel illustrates several scenes in continuous narrative: "Annunciation", "Nativity", "Adoration of the Shepherds" -Classical in inspiration

Relic

-Item thought to have great power associated with the saint

*Quatrefoil

-four-lobed designs

Metalwork/ivory

14th century French sculpture intimate in character - religious subjects became more emotionally expressive - secular realm- tales of love and valor were carved on luxury items to delight rich

*Cartoon

full-scale design for a picture, ornamental motif or pattern, or the like, to be transferred to a fresco, tapestry, etc.

Frederick II

-the Holy Roman Emperor who led the Sixth Crusade and crowned himself king of Jerusalem (1194-1250)

Triforium

In a Gothic cathedral, the blind arcade gallery below the clerestory; occasionally, the arcades are filled with stained glass

*Central Portal, Right Side, West Facade Reims Cathedral- "Aunnunciation" (c. 1240-50) and "Visitation" (c. 1230)

-"Annunciation" more medieval- more abstract, distorted/nonrealistic proportions of figures; Mary looks very rigid/static, less detailed -"Visitation" is more classical- more naturalistic, more detailed, more realistic -Quantity of sculpture envisioned for elaborate cathedral front required skills of many sculptors, working an a large variety of styles over several decades -The varying characteristics of figures became basis for the International Gothic style, fashionable arose Europe well into 15th century

Duccio Di Buoninsegna

-(1278-1318) Siena's foremost painter whose creative synthesis of Byzantine and French Gothic sources transformed tradition in which he worked -Combined evocation of 3D form w/ graceful continuity of linear pattern -Commissioned for Siena Cathedral ("Maesta") -"Raising of Lasarus" -"Betrayal of Jesus"

*Nicola Pisano, "Nativity", detail of relief panel from pulpit (marble, c. 1260)

-City of Siena- Siena Cathedral -Depicts Christ's birth- shows how Christ is born under humble circumstances in stable in city of Bethlehem -Born in stable surrounded by animals (particularly in foreground of scene) -Lots of other figures crowding around Christ child -Pisano shows scene as very crowded, bustling/busy -Virgin Mary is focal point (most fore-front figure, centered), behind her is Christ child; viewer's attention moves from group to group w/in shallow space, always returning to the regally detached Mother of God -Pisano tries to capture naturalism of ancient Roman carving- classical in inspiration

*Giotto, "Virgin and Child Enthroned", Florence (c. 1305-10, tempera and gold on panel)

-Compared to Cimabue's "Virgin and Child Enthroned", Giotto's altarpiece (painted 30 yrs. later) for church of Ognissanti in Florence, exhibits greater spatial consistency and sculptural solidity while retaining some of Cimabue's conventions (such as position of figures w/in symmetrical composition) -Unlike Cimabue, however, Giotto doesn't include a modest incline to Mary's head and delicate gold folds in her drapery- instead, light and shadow play gently across her stocky form, and her action- holding her child's leg instead of pointing him out to us- seems less contrived -Light palette used- allows for dimension and individuality to figures -Virgin and Child regally represented -Giotto tries to make everything more realistic -*HIERARCHY OF SCALE

Florentine architecture/metalwork

-Contrasted typical medieval Italian city layout -Ancient Roman city- axial rectangular plan and open city squares- formed basis for civic layout

*Giotto, "The Lamentation", from Arena Chapel, Padua, Italy (c. 1305-6, fresco)

-Depicts moment after Christ's execution by crucifixion; shows all of disciples, mother and father mourning loss -Giotto creates drama by portraying very moving scene- very human/real depiction -Looks like play unfolding on stage- many elements in painting, not static/rigid (like most art during medieval pd.); highly emotional -Used fresco painting technique -Following traditional medieval practice, fresco is full of scenes/symbols like those seen in Arena Chapel are intended to be contemplated as coordinated/contrasting juxtapositions -*New method- Giotto creates direct emotional appeal that not only allows viewers to imagine scenes in relation to own life experiences; it also embodies new Franciscan emphasis on personal devotion rooted in empathetic responses to sacred stories

14th century Italy

-Great wealth promoted patronage of art -Artists began to emerge as individuals (in modern sense) -Artists contracted freely w/ wealthy townspeople, nobles and civic/religious bodies

Gothic art in Germany and Holy Roman Empire

-Holy Roman Empire ceased to be significant power in 13th century- weakened by internal strife and prolonged struggle w/ papacy (authority of pope) -England and France were becoming strong nation-states

Rose windows

-Large, round stained-glass windows with a radial design that were particularly popular during the construction of Gothic Cathedrals in France and England

*Giotto, Arena Chapel, Padua (c. 1305-6, fresco)

-Made for wealthy family; Giotto was also one of architects who helped design building decorated from floor to ceiling -Used fresco (buon fresco) painting technique -Each panel was based off of life of Christ

14th century England

-Prospered in spite of Black Death and Hundred Years' War w/ France -At time, life was very good; many leaders were patrons of the arts

Gothic Period

-Style originated in powerful monasteries of Paris region- dominated much of European art/architecture for 400 yrs. -By mid-12th century, advances in building technology, incr. financial resources, and new intellectual/spiritual aspirations led to development of new art/architecture that expressed religious and political values of monastic communities

*Giotto di Bondone

-Worked under/was taught by master painter Cimabue -Became such an excellent imitator of nature, and completely banished crude Greek style and revived modern art of painting -introduced good drawing from live natural models (something not done for more than 200 yrs.) -Worked for Franciscans in Florence -In his frescoes, tried to revive classical technique

Gothic cathedrals

-abbey church of St.-Denis became prototype for new architecture of space and light based on highly adaptable skeletal framework that supported rib vaulting on points of slender piers, reinforced by external buttress systems

*Trefoil

-an ornament in the form of three arcs arranged in a circle -ornament composed of three lobes, divided by cusps, radiating from a common center

Tempera

-basically pigment mixed with egg yolk that is applied in lots and lots of thin layers to a surface (usually a piece of panel or wood); often times artists would layer in gold foil (as seen in background and halo of Giotto's figures in Madonna and Child Enthroned piece) -standard convention, even in Gothic art that gives a sense of richness

Themes of mysticism and suffering

-by-now-familiar ordeals of 14th century- famines, wars and plagues- inspired a mystical religiosity in Germany that emphasized both ecstatic joy and extreme suffering -through religious exercises, worshipers hoped to achieve understanding of divine and union w/ God

Gothic art in France

-development and initial flowering of Gothic style in France took place against backdrop of growing power of Capetian monarchy -concentrated architectural activity in capital may have provided opportunity for developments in architectural technology and new ways of planning and thinking about buildings that ult. led to birth of new style

Sculpture: Pisano Family

-during first half of 13th century, culturally enlightened Frederick II fostered a Classical revival at his southern Italian court -as Holy Roman emperor, Frederick II encouraged tendency to help communicate a message of power -Frederick II also encouraged artist to emulate natural world -Nicola Pisano moved to Tuscany at mid century, and became leading exponent of classicizing and naturalistic style

Rib vaulting

-important innovation of Gothic builders -a vault in which the diagonal and transverse ribs compose a structural skeleton that partially supports the masonry web between them

Architecture

-in later yrs. of 13th century and early yrs. of 14th, a distinctive and influential Gothic architectural style, known as "Decorated style" developed in England

Grisaille

-monochrome paintings in shades of gray

Ambrogio Lorenzetti

-most important civic structure in Siena- "Palazzo Pubblico" (town hall)

Giotto, "Kiss of Judas"

-one of most gripping paintings in chapel -moment of betrayal that represents 1st step on Jesus' road to Crucifixion -Bristling array of weapons radiating from confrontation draws attention to encounter btw Christ and Judas (traitor)- documents militarism of arresting battalion -Jesus' calm, solid stance is a foil to noisy and chaotic aggression around him -Judas delivers treacherous kiss that will betray Jesus to captors- sets up mythic confrontation of good and evil

"Book of Hours"

-private prayer books became popular during 14th century among wealthy patrons -contained special prayers to be recited at 8 canonical devotional "hours" btw morning and night

14th century France

-royal court in Paris still arbiter of taste in western Europe -during Hundred Years' War, French countryside ravaged by armed struggles and civil strife -power of nobility weakened significantly by warfare, challenged by townsmen -French sculptors found lucrative new outlets for work- stone, wood, ivory, precious metals (often decorated w/ enamel and gems)- in growing demand among wealthy patrons for religious art for homes and churches -Manuscript painters created lavishly illustrated books for personal devotions of wealthy and powerful (ex.: "The Book of Hours")

Palazzo della Signoria

-served as seat of govt. in Florence

Lancets

-tall, narrow windows ending in pointed arches in a gothic cathedral

*Dry fresco (fresco secco)

-technique of painting in watercolors on dry plaster; much faster than buon fresco, but much less durable

*Fresco (buon fresco)

-technique of painting on a moist, plaster surface w/ colors ground up in water or limewater mixture; very conducive to bright color and has ability to create depth -becomes very solid/durable part of wall decoration

Polychromy

-use of many colors in decoration, especially on surface of architecture and sculpture

14th century Europe

Literary luminaries- Dante, Petrarch, Boccaccio, Chaucer and Christine de Pizan, and visionary painters- Giotto, Duccio, Jean Pucelle, and Master Theodoric participated in cultural explosion that swept through 14th century Europe, especially Italy

Scholasticism

System of theological/philosophical teaching predominant in Middle Ages (Dark Ages); based chiefly upon authority of church fathers and of Aristotle and his commentators; fore-runner of humanism (became popular during Renaissance); attempt upon scholars to try to reconcile Christian theology w/ Pagan world view