Spanish, Flanders, and Dutch

Las Meninas (the maids of honor) by Diego Velazquez

front and center is little margarita the daughter of the king of spain. She is sorrounded by two of her maids (las meninas) and to the right are her two of her pet dwarves with the dog. Then there is a receding background with some more figures behind them and in the doorway. Then to the left there is Velazquez painting, he painted himself painting a painting. There is a large canvas to the extreme left which creates a large sense of ambiguity because Velazquez is looking straight out making us wonder if the thing he is currently painting is Margarita, us, or the two figures reflected in the mirror behind him: the king and queen of spain. There is an emphasis on artificiality by showing paint in the painting and the fact that his hands in the painting are simply brushstrokes reminding us that this is art. A painting about looking and paying attention. This is a painting for the king and queen of Spain they demand attention. What makes it so special is that it isn't a portrait but it still somewhat is. There is a sense of spontaneity and naturalism not so posed like a portrait. ➢ Meninas means young ladies ➢ Very enigmatic, not entirely clear, no clear narrative ➢ Front and center is Margarita, the daughter of King Philipp IV • Las Meninas refer to the two girls accompanying her • On the right are her pet dwarves ➢ Has a receding background ➢ Velazquez is in the painting, he is in the act of painting this painting • He is probably painting Margarita, but he is looking at our direction; the parents are reflected in a mirror, we are in the point of view of the parents • There are real paintings in the background by Rubens (?) • The artist placed himself as himself at the same level of the royal family ➢ Unbelievably naturalistic but in some places very artificial • We must understand that it is artificial and a painting, not the same as making it real like in the Renaissance ➢ Forces us to wonder what we're looking at • He is actually painting the painting because it is the same size of the actual painting

Charles I Dismounted by Anthony Van Dyck

had van Dyck portray him as an absolute monarch despite the fact that they have a parliament. Although he is out in the country he is still lavishly dressed. The expression of his face says I am the ruler of all this. His face sets the mood for the painting even though he is not the center point. Great for shortened elbow, light feathery trees. Dyck has framed his face with the hat so that it stands out against the blue sky. Another man tends to the horse and another is behind presumably holding his hunting jacket. Charles seems very confident in himself and his power. Van Dyck was very influenced by Rubens, Titian, etc. Essentially an equestrian portrait but he is dismounted. This style of painting, a noblemen out in the countryside will become very famous. ➢ Portrait of King Charles I of England • He is portrayed as an absolute monarch, he wants to be seen as glorious and richly dressed • He has the face of dominance, captures power in a subtle way • Rubens influence with the tree and sky, leads to Titian • It is a popular way to show people out in the countryside

Saint Serapion by Francisco de Zurbaran

he has intense lighting on him. Art that is meant to inspire devotion. Very dramatic, the man is waiting to be hung ➢ Specializes with black backgrounds and intense emotions and spotlight on the figure • Art that is meant to inspire devotion, they are more crisp and precise

Water Carrier of Seville by Diego Velazquez

he painted this when he was only 20 so very early in his life he was considered a master painter. He will go twice in his life to italy to see the work of titian and Caravagio. Earthy characters, dark back ground, extremely naturalistic with the beads of water dripping from the jug. ➢ He was identified as a great talent, he became an official court painter, devoted to capturing the members of the Spanish royal family ➢ Has earthy characters, dark background, extreme detail on the figures • Small droplets on the jar

Martyrdom of Saint Philip by Jose De Ribera

in other paintings by him we can see the strong Caravaggio influence; in this painting despite the blue sky it is very dramatic and similar to Caravaggio. Very earthy figures. Sharp contrasts between light and dark, there is a kind of concavity in the way his body is bending, emphasizing his vulnerability. The figures pulling him up on the cross are purposely foreshortened. It makes us focus on every last gruesome detail. ➢ There is clear Caravaggio influence, dark background and strong light on the figures • There is a blue sky however ➢ Very intense and dramatic scenes, there are also obvious diagonals, the figures are not idealized ➢ His style is softer, less crisp and precise ➢ The moment of the raising of the cross, has a lot of strain and effort • Has a lot of vulnerability, intentional foreshortening • We can feel the pain that the man is feeling

The Letter by Jan Vermeer

it feels like we are peeking, like we are observing something private. The maid ahs handed this women who is playing the lute a letter. It is very mysterious because we dont know what is in the letter or what is going on. Pearl earring and yellow coat are two props used over and over in Vermeer's painting ➢ Mysterious and sincere, very evocate ➢ Great use of light, the subjects are often women, richly dressed • Many props are recycled, has very soft shadows • The pearl earing and yellow jacket are two props that will be present in many of his works ➢ The typical pattern is a domestic scene with a woman, and the light source comes from the left ➢ It feels like we are peeking, observing a private mysterious moment ➢ A woman playing the loot is given a letter, very mystified

Vanitas Still Life by Pieter Claesz

meant to remind us of death with the skull. Another examples of the passage of time with the over turned glass and the broken walnut. The bronze orb shows us a reflection of the painter. ➢ Vanitas means vanity, a passage of time with hourglass and broken walnut, and memento mori because of the skull ➢ There are much more symbolism, the reflective orb shows the artist painting ➢ Meant to show the artist's technique in capturing the different textures but also teaches a moral lesson

The Feast of Saint Nicholas by Jan Steen

messy household with a little girl holding a doll who is happy and gloating while another boy cries and another laughs at him. Its a painting about greed. ➢ Teaches moral lessons but with humor • Domestic scenes of misbehavior, especially in children ➢ Messy household, there is a little girl who is happy and gloating that she got the doll ➢ A boy is unhappy with what he got, the other boy is pointing and laughing • A lesson about greed and selfishness

Nightwatch by Rembrandt

most famous of his group portrait, dramatic contrast between light and dark ➢ Militia army, strong contrast between light and dark • Everyone is very individualized, the light is shining to some more than others

Arrival of Marie de Medici at Marseilles by Peter Paul Rubens

one of 24 paintings of the life of Marie de Madici. Shown is Marie arriving at Mearseilles greeted by a figure with a helmet and a cape (the cape has the symbol of the french monarchy). Victory is above her with trumpets announcing her arrival, the fufilment of her destiny as queen of france. She getting off a lavish ship, very baroque swirling sky. Below them are several sea nymphs and sea gods twisting and adding movement almost like they are the sea themselves. Tremendous sense of motion and energy . Great coloration and foreshortening. Their eyes are alive and glowing with light paint, so are the pearls on some of the nymphs and the drops of water. ➢ She will tell Rubens to make paintings that follow the sequence of her life ➢ This is when she comes to France for arranged marriage, Marie is disembarking form her ship, greeted by a figure wearing a helmet and cape • It has the fleur de lys, symbol of French monarchy • Greeted literally by France ➢ Has celestial spirits and mythological sea creatures greeting her ➢ Very lavish, has mythological and historical mixed together, a lot of drama

The Surrender of Breda by Diego Velazquez

He painted for the King of Spain during the 30 years war. An episode from this war where there was a spanish victory over the Dutch. Because Velazquez had never been to the Netherlands he made the mistake of painting mountains in the background. On the left we have the Dutch looking a bit disheveled and the spanish on the right look more put together. What is peculiar about this is that the Spanish and the Dutch commander look very friendly, they are touching as the Dutch hand the key of the city to the spanish. The lances in the background add dynamics to the picture that draw our eyes up, very vertical➢ Meant to be a triumphant painting for the victory of Spain ➢ The geography is inaccurate, there are many mountains, Velazquez wasn't there ➢ The Dutch are shaggy while the Spanish are gallant ➢ The spears create a visual effect with the verticals ➢ The generals are shown to be friendly with each other, the Dutchman is handing him the key to the city • Meant to impress

Elevation of the Cross by Peter Paul Rubens

a scene of imminent pain and death, Christ had been nailed in place and the cross is being put up. His use of light reminds us of Titian, the sculptural bodies come from Michelangelo. There is a lot of tension, energy, and movement in the painting. Ruben is known for his fleshy bodies.Rubens was one of the most cosmopolitan painters of his time, he will be the first paneuropean artists, painting in all of these different places for many different people. He has benefited from the many influences he's been exposed through his travels. Single image on three panels. The extremely strong figure crucifying christ may be to represent brutality. Combination of the northern tradition and the italian tradition. Very prominent diagonal with christ on this receding cross. A lot of motion in the painting. On the right there is a foreshortened horse being ridden by a roman official with the two thief's behind them also going to be crucified. and to the left there is Mary and John upset but emotionally strong. ➢ Has absorbed the Italian influence ➢ Very fleshy powerful bodies and a lot of intense colors and light ➢ Very devoted, at the moment that Jesus is crucified ➢ Presents opulence and elegance, mixes earthly and spiritual, for counter reformation ➢ Has a very obvious diagonal line, everything is in motion and straining • A lot of foreshortening like the horse

Self Portrait by Judith Leyster

capturing spontaneity and personality. She is shown smiling and painting demonstrating her skill. An artist at work who has just turned to talk to us for a minute. There is not a lot of space between her and us by using foreshortening. She chose to paint something she was known for painting, a merry company painting of a happy musician. The clothing she was wearing is not what she would actually be wearing to paint but she chose to paint herself like this to symbolize her importance. ➢ She paints herself painting another painting ➢ She wears extravagant clothing and has a proud expression • Used to show off her skill ➢ Not a religious painting ➢ A real sense of spontaneity, very awkward posing ➢ The elbow is foreshortened, she is looking directly at us

View of Haarlem from the Dunes at Overveen by JACOB VAN RUISDAEL

emphasis on the sky, peace and serenity. Shows people stretching and drying linen, this is a place where they make textiles. ➢ Emphasis on sky and the peacefulness ➢ Has a lot of mills to channel the water away from the land ➢ Shows has Harlem used to look like, the people are making textiles

Archers of Saint Hadrian by Frans Hals

example of portrait. Hals was considered a master of portraitry and capturing emotion in the face. A bunch of men very lavishly dressed but very similarly dressed. A lot of focus on face and personality, not so much on clothing. He'll paint people smiling or laughing ➢ Captures peoples personalities, many different poses and expressions ➢ It feels like a company of individuals

Allegory of the Outbreak of War

painted during the 30 years war for the Dukes of Tuscany (the Medici) Lots of drama and bodies in diagonals. The allegory is Europe (shown as a women) fleeing, then there is venus and cupid. Venus is holding on to Mars and they are being taken by a fury. Through the chaos Mars is stepping on a book, there is a broken lute and an architectural instruments on the floor. Also shown is a mother and child who represents civilization. This painting is meant to represent the destruction of humanism during war. Very large energetic figures. An allegorical figure os Europe flails her arms up and allegorical figures of art are being trampled by war. Contrast between the beauty of venus (love) and the ugly and chaos of fury (consequences of war). Tears well up in Europe's eyes and there is real terror in the eyes of the mother holding her child. There is a kind of momentum to the painting. ➢ For the Grand Duke of Tuscany ➢ Aware of the political conditions, there was the 30 years war • Lots of drama and bodies in diagonals • Europe is a woman fleeing in terror, Venus, with cupid, is trying to stop Mars who is making war • Mars is being pulled in the opposite direction by a Fury, incites aggression • Mars is trampling on a book and a lute, music and learning and civilization are destroyed by war • The horrors of war are personified, humanism

A distant view of Dordrecht by Aelbert Cuyp

the dutch dont idealize or paint mythological scenes like the italians, this painting is of an actual view. Although not idealized it is still very sweet and tranquil, almost like saying it is fun to be a milkmaid ➢ Not idealized and has no mythology ➢ The actual geology and architecture • Captures a lot of sweetness and peace, associates with landscape • Shows how wonderful it is to be a Dutch milkmaid, pride for the country

The Allegory of the art of Painting by Jan Vermeer

the floor and light are the same as the other painting. On the wall is a map of the Netherlands because it was a new and proud country. Vermeer painted like a self portrait, he painted himself painting and he is not dressed in clothing of that time he is dressed in 1400s clothing. Painting is about the role of art in history. ➢ Could be a self portrait, he is painting himself • His clothing is 200 years out of date ➢ On the wall is a map of the Netherlands, they are proud of their country ➢ The floors are very similar, the light is on the left • Beautiful shades and precision ➢ He uses camera obscura, means dark room • The principle of a photographic camera, very precise

Still life with flowers by Clara Peeters

the metal of the goblet, different metal , the glass, the flowers, the food. Still lifes become a common way for artists to demonstrate their abilities to paint different surface.

Self Portrait by Rembrandt

the paint is very visible but that was the style he developed as he got older. He is holding his paintbrushes to emphasize that he is a painter ➢ He painted himself every year, he depicts himself as a painter with art materials • Meant to be artificial and show the brush strokes ➢ The circles show how good the artists are, to draw the circle without a compass

Return of the Prodigal Son by Rembrandt

the scene where the prodigal son returns to his father full of regret after spending all of his money, a story of forgiveness. Rembrandt's precise lines have faded away as the color softens. ➢ His religious scenes are not for devotional purposes, but for moral purposes ➢ Softness of color instead of precise lines • Subtle shift of light ➢ A parable of forgiveness, a parable of a sinner returning to his father, but the Father is meant to represent God ➢ Nothing Catholic, these are just characters of a parable told by Jesus

by King Philip IV of Spain Diego Velazquez

very strong hapsburg jaw because he is the product of many years of inbreeding. You can't make him look beautiful but you can make the clothes look beautiful, Velazquez focused on that a lot when painting King Philip. ➢ Portrait of his main patron ➢ He has the Hapsburg jaw after many generations of inbreeding ➢ His clothing is very elaborate, the color is so luminous, the brush strokes are visible • Self consciously artificial, general movement away from the precision of the Renaissance

Anatomy Lesson of Dr.Tulp by Rembrandt Van Rign

young rembrandt painted very naturalistically but will use more vibrant colors as he geys older. Will paint many religious scenes but because he is a protestant there will be no celestial figures or halos instead his paintings teach a moral lesson not worship. ➢ In his early career, his paintings were very realistic with precise lines ➢ An illustration of that medical students do, studying the anatomy ➢ Contrast between light and dark ➢ Group portrait, individualized faces but they are all placed on one side ➢ Sort of diagonal dead body, foreshortened