Art History Test 1
Filippo Brunelleschi, dome of the Florence Cathedral,1420, Florence, Italy
2nd duel to build this the competition, the finalist linear perspective Brunelleschi worked with Ghiberti (rival)
Medici Family
A family, made wealthy by starting a banking industry in Florence, who were major patrons to the arts during the renaissance.
Pilasters
A flat, rectangular, vertical member projecting from a wall of which it forms a part. It usually has a base and a capital and is often fluted.
grisaille
A monochrome painting done mainly in neutral grays to stimulate sculpture
Leonardo da Vinci, Last Supper,1495
A mural for the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan. The mural is in a poor state because Leonardo boldly experimented by mixing tempura paint and oil paint and applied the paint a secco (to dried, rather than wet, plaster) resulting in the plaster not efficiently absorbing the pigment in the buon fresco technique. In this painting, Jesus exclaims that one of his disciples will betray him which results in a dramatic action spreading throughout the entire length of the table. Jesus is made the center of attention because he is focal point for all converging lines, as well as his calm repose through the commotion. He also painted the painting as if the light from the windows of the refectory illuminated the disciples faces.
oil painting
A painting technique using oil based pigments that rose to prominence in Northern Europe in the 15th century and is now the standard medium for painting on canvas
triptych
A three panel painting, ivory plaque, or altarpiece. Also, a small portable shrine with hinged wings used for private devotion
Maesta
An Italian word that translates to "majesty" She is always depicted as (1) sitting on a throne, (2) sporting a crown-like halo and (3) attended by saints, angels, or both.
polyptych
An altarpiece composed of more than three sections
Leon Battista Alberti
An architect who wrote a theory of architecture that summed up his idea of perfection and used the "perfect" shapes, the square and the circle
Neo-platonism
Ancient greek and roman with christianity and slight pagan.
Donato D'Angelo Bramante, Tempieto, San Pietro in Montorio, 1502, Rome, Italy
Contemporaries celebrate him as the first to revive the classical style in Architecture. Roman round temples inspired his "little temple" but he combined the classical parts in new ways.This structure's design is severely rational with its sober circular stylobate (stepped temple platform) and the austere Tuscan style of the collonade. He achieved a wonderful balance and harmony in the relationship of the parts (dome, drum, and base) to one another and to the whole. This structure initiated the High Renaissance era in architecture. It was described to be the first to bring back to light the good and beautiful architecture that from antiquity to that time had been hidden.
trompe l'oeil
French, "fools the eye" A form of illusionistic painting that aims to deceive viewers into believing they are seeing real objects rather than a representation of those objects.
Giorgio Vasari
He was an Italian painter, architect, writer and historian, most famous today for his Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, considered the ideological foundation of art-historical writing.
Raphael, Madonna of the Meadow, 1505, oil on panel
He worked in Florence, where he painted this art piece and adopted Leonardo's pyramidal composition and figures in subtle chiaroscuro. But he retained Perugino's lighter toned skies and unlike Leonardo, preferred clarity over obscurity. He portrayal of Madonna unifies Christian devotion and classical beauty. No artist has ever been able to match Raphael's sublime theme of grace and dignity, of sweetness and lofty idealism.
Michelangelo, ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, Vatican City, 1508,Rome, Italy
In 1508, the pope convinced this artist to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Despite facing many problems, such as the the ceilings dimension's, curvature and problems with attaining perspective and his inexperience with fresco, he finished the ceiling in less than four years perfectly achieving the patrons agenda; the depiction of the book of Genesis. He was a master of the human body, to him, the body was beautiful and deserved to be made so. Unlike Mantegna's decoration of the Camera Picta, he used a sculptors eye to see how light and shadow could show a body's surface and volume. Also rather than painted windows, he brought more attention to not the scenes themselves but from broadly outlined figure to figure.
chiaroscuro
In drawing or painting, the treatment and the use of light
humanism
In the Renaissance, an emphasis on education and on expanding knowledge (especially of classical antiquity), the exploration of individual potential and a desire to excel, and a commitment to civic responsibility and moral duty
Leonardo da Vinci, Virgin of the Rocks,1485
In this early masterpiece, the four subjects seem detached from the background, through a use of chiaroscuro to achieve an atmospheric perspective setting. In this painting, the Florentine painter also achieves a groundbreaking feat- the unified representation of objects in atmospheric perspective, this is mostly due to his mastery of the relatively new medium oil painting.
Andrea Mantegna, Foreshortened Christ, 1500, Pinacoteca di Brera, Milan
In this work of overwhelming emotional power, he presented both a harrowing study of a strongly foreshortened cadaver and an intensely poignant depiction of a biblical tragedy. It shows his mastery of perspective, at first glance, this may seem like a realistic use of foreshortening but in fact, he shrinks Christ's feet because he knew if following perspective protocol, the feet would cover most of the body. he makes a study of a foreshortened cadaver.Tempera on canvas
Maniera greca
Italian "greek manner", The Italo- Byzantine painting style of the 13th century
Savonarola
Italian reformer. A Dominican friar, he gained a vast popular following and drove the Medici family out of Florence in 1494. He was later excommunicated and executed for criticizing Pope Alexander VI. Disliked the artworks (lewd, pagan, immore sculpture, music,instruments, anything that is inappropriate to be burned.)
Di sotto in su
Italian, "from below upward". A perspective view seen from below.
sacra conversazione
Italian, "sacred conversation" is a depiction of the Virgin and Child (the Virgin Mary with the infant Jesus) amidst a group of saints in a relatively informal grouping, as opposed to the more rigid and hierarchical compositions of earlier periods.
sfumato
Italian, "smoky". A smokelike haziness that subtly softens outlines in painting; particularly applied to the paintings of Leonardo da Vinci.
memento mori
Latin, "reminder of death"; in painting, a reminder of human mortality usually represented by a skull
Andrea Mantegna, interior of the Camera degli Sposi, Palazzo Ducale,1474, Mantua, Italy
Ludovico Gonzaga believed am impressive palace was important visual expression of his authority. Camera degli Sposi (Room of the Newly Weds), originally Camera Picta (Painted Chamber) took s artist nearly 9 years to complete. He sought to aggrandize Gonzaga. This artist successfully captivates his audience by producing a completely consistent decorative room using real and painted elements of architecture. He's also the first to employ trompe lo'eil in the form of an oculus di sotto in su (from below upward) by using perspective and foreshortened cupids.
Giorgione, The Tempest, 1510
Many Venetian artworks such as this art piece are taken from poetic inspiration or meant to operate in a manner similar to poetry making a definitive interpretation difficult to grasp. His paintings are filled with lush landscapes, billowing clouds, and a certain tranquility of the pastoral setting, There is a man to the left carrying a halberd yet he's not a soldier and a naked woman with an infant sitting to the right. There's been much dispute over the painting's subject and a clear narrative hasn't been reached.
Sandro Botticelli, Birth of Venus,1482
One of her most famous works, painted for the Medici family. In this painting, a Greek myth is being retold; Zephyrus carrying Chloris blows Venus, born from sea foam and carried on a cockle shell to her island, Cyprus, where she's met by the nymph Pomona with a mantle. The painting shows some aspect of Neoplatonism and shows that Botticelli's style is distinct from other artists with his use of an elegant linear style, devoid of perspective. Venus may depict the Virgin Mary.
Titian, Venus of Urbino, 1538
Painted for Guidoboaldo II, who later became the duke of Urbino. The title given to the painting later gave the painting a mythological meaning but doesn't make it clear if the subject is divine or mortal. He based his painting on an earlier painting of Venus by Giorgione. The soft edges of the reclined to give her elegance relative to the sharp edges used. There's a lapdog at the woman's feet which may depict a cupid. He uses the color red for contrast and flowers to further the subjects apparent figure to her.
Jan van Eyek, Ghent Altarpiece (closed), 1432, Belguim
Polyptych- multiple panels that open and close Dutch art, oil paint last panel 2nd one, john the baptist second panel archangel gabriel and mary old and new testament figures first panel top panel middle, women that predicted the future
Leon Battista Alberti, Santa Maria Novella, 1456, Florence, Italy
Ratio and proportion classical allusion to Greek and Roman temples influenced by Florence Cathedral geometric design, gothic churches by adding symmetry
Iconography
Refers to both to the content, or subject, of an artwork and to the study of content in art. It also includes the study of the symbolic, often religious, meaning of objects,persons, or events depicted in works of art.
Cornice
The projecting, crowning member of the entablature framing the pediment, also, any crowning projections
Foreshortening
The use of perspective to represent in art the apparent visual contraction of an object that extends back in space at an angle perpendicular to the plane of sight.
Raphael, Philosophy (School of Athens), Stanza della Segnatura, 1509,Rome, Italy,
This painting doesn't show a school but a congregation of the great philosophers and scientists of the ancient world. His painting is rife with humanism, as there seems to be interaction everywhere, as if they're all speaking of their various theories and ideas. Colossal statues of Apollo and Athena overlook the crowd and the in the center of the painting are Plato and Aristotle. His painting is renowned for it's incredible use of figures to depict moods and beliefs and the placement of each person tied them together. Also being able to depict such a large vast space on a 2-dimensional surface.
Giorgione, Pastoral Symphony, 1508
Titian expressed his interest in landscape, poetry and music. Out of dense shadow emerge the soft forms of figures and landscape. Titian, a master of color and oil casts an eerie tranquil dreaminess over the landscape. Pipes and lutes symbolize poetry and the two naked women can be thought of as their invisible inspiration, one drawing water from the well of poetic inspiration. The fullness of their figure personify natures abundance.
Vanishing Point
Used in linear perspective, where all parallel lines or surface edges converge on one, two, or three vanishing points located with reference to the eye level of the viewer (the horizon) and associated objects are rendered smaller the farther from the viewer they're intended to seem.
Michelangelo, David, 1501
Was commissioned by the Florence Cathedral from a great block of leftover marble. Like Donatello's, symbolized Florentine liberty. Unlike Donatello's, this artist decided to depict this statue not after defeating Goliath but before the encounter, sternly watching for his foe. This statue is imbued with powerful youth which compares to a coiled spring,marble, 14' high
paragone
a debate from the Italian Renaissance in which one form of art (architecture, sculpture or painting) is championed as superior to all others. Leonardo da Vinci's treatise on painting, noting the difficulty of painting and supremacy of sight, is a noted example. Michelangelo's treatise on the superiority of sculpture is a famous response to Leonardo's treatise.
City states
an independent, self governing city
Fra Angelico, Annunciation, San Marco,1438, Florence, Italy
commissioned by the Medici to create many fresco new innovations single point aspect wings are colorful, much like the international style located san marcos
Rogier van der Weyden, Deposition, 1435, Belgium
contemporary international artist northern master well respected during his time she was paler than her son, she had no color, spiritual death momento mori close up not far out compared to jan van eyek's ghent altarpiece
Giotto di Bondone, Madonna Enthroned, 1310, Florence
father of western art (simon Martinti)- student of Cimabue color scheme, symmetry, throne, wings are more 3D, angels are facing towards Mary contrast, and light and dark tones, surreal
Donatello, David,1428
first nudity figure feminine looking rather than muscular Contrapposto, naturalistic play on the body, pose biblical thinker David slays goliath commissioned by the Medici Bronze, 5'2" high
Masaccio, Holy Trinity, Santa Maria Novella, 1428, Florence, Italy
first to incorporate linear perspective Memento Mori at the bottom fresco not everyone liked it right away didn't do many works, died young
Robert Campion, Merode Altarpiece, 1425
formalize view flower symbolizes the purity of the mary right side- carpenter, a mouse trap, aka bad news for the devil the light towards the window has a child with a cross going towards the virgin
Cimabue, Madonna Enthroned with Angels and Prophets, 1280, Florence
gold, a lot of gold babies are stretch out- long hand gestures ( more depth)
Giotto di Bondone, Arena Chapel, 1305,Padua, Italy
he designed a chapel, studied with Cimabue commissioned by a private family made by fresco emotions commissioned by Scrovegni (NOT the church)
Jan van Eyek, Ghent Altarpiece (opened), 1432, Belguim
image of power Adam and Eve on the side, odd looking, first nudes extraordinary detail Sacrifice of christ everyone attended no idea who the person in the center is yet, god or christ hermits on the bottom right
Giovanni Bellini, San Zaccaria Altarpiece, Venice, 1505
large scale oil painting interesting color saints from different periods crowding around the virgin and christ saint peter has keys in his hands
Jan van Eyek, Giovanni Arnolfini and his wife,1434
marriage Very detailed mirror shows that Eyek was there, it was also written under the mirror dog symbolizes loyalty traditional- in which the women is closer to the interior and the man closer to the window
Giotto di Bondone, Lamentation, Arena Chapel, 1305, Padua, Italy
most famous artwork in the arena chapel dramatical focal point the images aren't facing the viewer angels have a heaviness to them
Alberti, Sant'Andrea, 1470, Mantua, Italy
neoclassical architecture pediment , pilasters the designs helped create the vast interior
Pope Julius II
nicknamed "The Fearsome Pope"[1] and "The Warrior Pope",[2] born Giuliano della Rovere, was Pope from 1 November 1503 to his death in 1513. His papacy was marked by an active foreign policy, ambitious building projects, and patronage for the arts—he commissioned the destruction and rebuilding of St. Peter's Basilica, plus Michelangelo's decoration of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
Duccio di Buoninsegna, Virgin and Child Enthroned with Saints, Maesta altarpiece, 1308, Siena, Italy
non proportional the greatest artist during this period in heaven surrounded by angels and saints made with gold tilted head, humanistic detail huge on scale Saint John the Baptist- Christ cousin- the bearded character on the right center
fresco
painting on lime plaster, either dry (fresco seco) or wet. In the latter method, the pigments are mixed with water and becomes chemically bound to the freshly laid lime plaster.
colorito
racteristic of the work of 16th century Venetian artists who emphasized the application of paint as an important element of the creative process. Central italian artists, in contrast, largely emphasized disegno- the careful design preparation based on a preliminary drawing.
Fra Filippo Lippi, Madonna and Child with Angels, 1455
reflects the humanizing style of the period FIRST HUMAN LOOKING BABY OMG! IT'S ABOUT TIME THEY GOT IT RIGHT! earthy looking girl thing halo angels look like children a nun, Lucretia, who was his mistress who bore his son virgin mary was portrayed like Lucretia in this art
Piero della Francesca, Enthroned Madonna and Saints Adorned by Federico da Montefeltro, 1472
sacra conversazione-combines all kinds of public/ religious figures master of single point perspective dome structure ostrich eggs- symbol of rebirth shell of ostrich egg- symbolizes the Venus 8 by 6 feet canvas
Ghiberti, east doors "Gates of Paradise", Baptistery of Florence Cathedral,1425, Florence, Italy
smaller, 10 tiles, gold more detailed and elaborate (Isaac and his Sons, panel- single point perspective the artist is aware of the point of view (new humanistic point of view)) Self Portrait door handle strange to make his self portrait as a door handle Brunelleschi vs Ghiberti sacrifice of Isaac prior to gates of paradise
Simone de Martini, Annunciation, 1333, Florence
student of Giotto Unique style- which becomes the international style a lot of gold, again elaborate architectural design Italian influence
Contrapposto
the disposition of the human figure in which one part is turned in opposition to another part, creating a counter positioning of the body about its central axis
Naturalism
the style of painted or sculptured representation based on close observation of the natural world that was at the core of classical tradition
Perugino, Christ Delivering the Keys of the Kingdom to Saint Peter, 1481
vanishing point,perspective world now organized in a rational ideal Christ hands keys to saint peter parallel gathering of the 12 apostles and Renaissance contemporaries