baroque final
'Repentant Magdalen", Georges de La Tour, 1638-40
"Magdalen with the Two Flames" -Candle may be a symbol for spiritual enlightenment. -Pure geometry of form characterized by the shadow and light. -Meditative mood.
"Still Life with Mince Pie" Willem Claesz Heda, 1635
-"aristocratic still lives" -richer materials and foods -more refined handling: more detailed -curled, peeled lemon hanging over the edge -time piece key also hanging over the edge -overturned nautilus cup adds to the overwhelming feeling of dissaray -plate hanging over the edge of the table into the viewers space -party game drinking cup
"The Fortune Teller", Georges de La Tour, 1620-21
-Catches the moment when a wealthy young man is having is having his fortune told but while he is distracted he is robbed by her companions. -Troupe of the old woman that was used by Caravaggio. Costume and composition from theatrical performances. -Cautionary image.
"Repentant Magdalen", Georges de La Tour, 1635,
-Early works were painted in a mannerist style but was inspired heavily by Caravaggio, especially his chiaroscuro. -Dramatic simplification of form and subject and only preserved essential details. -This gave his pieces a unique quality of abstraction that wasn't common during this period of art. -Usually had wealthier clients and patrons. -Magdalen usually shown with a skull that is a reference the passage and temporality of life and time. -The mirror is a symbol of vanity. -Somber pallette and lighting as well as the haunting quality of his works. -anticipates cubism and modernism
"Flowers and Fruit", Jan Van Huysum, 1722
-Elevated flower and fruit pieces -candy colored, bright ventian color palette -fanciful and great imagination -fine and clear technique -expansive outdoor scene -kept his technique secret and made individual studies of each element -flower from a variety of seasons -elegance and refinement -richness and decorative nature -small insects and drops of water
"Woman and Five Children", Antoine le Nain, 1642
-Figures crammed in to a small space, uncertain what their relationship is to each other and their facial expressions aren't discernable. -Bright clothes stand out against a dark background. -Strange perspective and the tablecloth may be trying to hide errors. -White tablecloth emphasizes dignity but the empty vessels mean poverty. -Painted on copper which made it a luxury item.
"Peasant Man and Peasant Woman" Georges de La Tour, 1618-19
-Known for genre painting and intense tenebrism -Blank background that is not able to be placed in a real location, based on theater and was based on people in costumes
"Peasant Couple" Georges de La Tour, 1619
-Known for unique depiction of regular subject matter. -Representation and genre and religious subjects both during the day and at night. -Small paintings probably meant mostly private clients from the bourgeoisie or religious Houses. -Depicts two tightly framed half length figures who are in the process of eating beans. -The man has a sour and resentful look while the woman gazes at the viewer with deep set dead eyes. -Sharp detail and cleanliness of the piece through the use of light
Palace of Versailles, 1661-1710
-Le Brun was the primary designer for Louis XIV -Louis Le Vau: architect -Jules Hardouin-Mansart: 2nd architect -Andre Le Notre: landscape architect -enduring monumnet to power and grandeur -enormous complex of palaces and gardens with out procedure related to its complexity and decoration -originally Louis XIV purchased the plot of land to create a retreat and hunting lodge -challenge with the swampy terrain -increased interest as a residence when the Louvre palace had a fire; wanted to escape the mobs of paris -"envellope" 1661-70:original hunting lodge -garden (western facade) 1669-85: classical and rationale -galerie des Glaces (hall of mirrors) 1678: large ceremonial hall with inserted paintings that depict military victories -Grotto of Tethys: pavilion was conceived by Perrault based on ovids metamorphoses where apollo descended into the palace of the underworld; 3 larges niches with sculptures with the central scuplture of apollo bathed by nymphs -rusticated masonry, arcaded forms, lucid, based on classical order -expression of kingly power and grandiose version of an aristocratic townhouse -Louis was the master of nature and culture -necessary to design a space to indicate the rank of the resident -king's bedroom is the central element
"Village Piper", Antoine le Nain, 1642
-Many of the works of the brothers are similar and are sometimes just attributed to their general family workshop. -Small painting on copper probably for a private patron who wanted genre scenes. -Has no specific narrative content and was probably a response to the growing demand from a middle class clientele. -Strays from the grandiose taste of the french royal court.
"Smokers in an Interior", Matthieu Le Nain, 1643
-More precise brushwork with a less original brushwork that is familiar to Dutch types. -The figures are grouped around a table with a single candle that creates an intense tenebrism. -Unexpected masterpiece depicting middle class subjects painted from the need of Le Nain to observe. -No clue to the context or narrative that is happening. -Eerie quality emphasized by the use of shadow and the way the figures tear in to space.
"Martyrdom of St. Erasmus", Nicolas Poussin, 1628-29
-Poussin came to the attention of one of the greatest patrons in Rome, pope Barberini -Erasmus is the patron saint of sailors -this piece shows an attempt to be modern and avant-garde, an influence from Caravaggio -shows Erasmus' intestines being pulled out of his body -strong diagonal movement moving left to right as well as a dynamic composition -clarity of forms that are idealized -range of gesture and expression that is legible -golden Venetian coloring with bold primary colors that is the dominant characteristic of his art
"The Jewish Bride", Rembrandt van Rijn, 1666
-Rembrandt entered into an agreement where he was the employee of his son and Hendrickje -1663: she dies -widely recognized as an elegant evocation of love and remembrance of Hendrickje -transcends specificity and speaks in a universal langauge -vague setting -historical clothing -unusual intimacy that is less formal with both people in the same composition -human response of emotion and touch -transcends specificity to create a universal statement about love and specificity -extraordinary pictorial technique
"Self-Portrait", Peter Paul Rubens, 1638
-Rubens now in his 60s, pinnacle of his career and living at his estate -image of artistic self-interpretation -half-length 3/4 view with stone column to represent strength and fortitude -hand rests on the hilt of his sword -gloves are a symbol of the aristocracy -shrewd and proud but also tried and reaching the end of his life -proud of his aristocratic status and transcends the painterly profession -sword was a gift from King charles I -don't know what hes thinking, no physiological penetration
"Christ in the Carpenter's Shop", Georges de La Tour, 1638-40
-The light from the candle illuminates minute details that characterize the narrative, scene and figures. -La Tour tells the bible story in the simplest form and could even exist in the realm of a genre scene as it is not overburdened with imagery, its level of realism and lack of overt religious overtones. -Figures building a mousetrap which has religious symbolism.
"The Cheat with the Ace of Diamonds", Georges de La Tour, 1619-20
-Theme that was popularly depicted by Caravaggio. -The young man who is the subject is shown being tempted. by 3 major vices: gambling, wine and lust. -The man is lavishly dressed and set apart from the rest of the figures -Use of shadow and dress to convey cheating and sense of immorality. -The man is drawn in to the game by the prostitute and cheated and robbed. -Dazzling colors and costumes. May represent geographic regions through the costume
"Beggar's Brawl", Georges de La Tour, 1627-30
-Two street musicians fight, possibly over a place to play their instruments. The man on a left squeezes a lemon into the other man's eyes to test whether he is truly blind. -Compressed in a shallow space pressed close to the viewer to create a sense of claustrophobia. -Each figure is physically characterized in great detail and realistically.
"Peasants Before Their House", Louis Le Nain, 1640
-Unusual to have this type of background in a Le Nain painting instead of a landscape. Unexpected dignity given to a low life subject of peasant life. -Expressions of the figures are listless, removed and lend an air of timelessness to the painting. -Rare for the artist to not be interested in telling a story but this painting is ambiguous and simply an observation
"Curiosity", Gerard ter Borch, 1660
-affluent world of the piece -elegant gilded fireplace -decadent costumes, obsessed with rendering fabric -titles given in the 19th century -lady at the table writing a letter, possibly a love letter -celebration of courtly culture: trend in Dutch language genre painting -dog of fidelity or carnality
"Still Life with Pottery and Cups", Francisco de Zurbaran, 1635
-also painted some humble still lives -mastery of rendering objects and major genre of painting -rigorous frieze like arrangement of that is not axial -3 dimensionality of the objects -utterly balanced with a sense of harmony -light makes tactile forms -black, neutral background -sacramental sobriety: liturgical vessels on an altar -3 dimensional plasticity -these types of still lives intended to bring the viewer beyond themselves and see the potential for spirituality
"Self Portrait", Nicolas Poussin, 1650
-articulates his self identity and approach to picture making -intense confrontation of the viewer with the furrowed brow scrutinizing the viewer -wear's black clothes/cloak that is accomplish academic dress to show he is the philosopher painter -holds a portfolio to show that his drawings are the intellectual basis of his art -inscription in latin saying the piece is his effigy and directly addressed to his friend who received this painting -abstract arrangement of frames -includes the detail of a figure of a woman wearing a diadem with an eye being embraced -she is a stoic figure as well as an allegory for painting -we as the viewer see an artist fully in command and embraces stoicism
"Clubfooted Boy", Jusepe de Ribera, 1642
-artists' interest in the grotesque and "the other" -can still discern beauty through the grotesque -elevates the boy to an element of dignity: low point of view to have him rise high -confront the viewer directly with his foot -transcends the grotesque by creating an air of sympathy -elements of pride:holding his cane like weapon -expression of serenity and joy that is enhanced by the bright blue sky -use this figure to express a christian message that is conveyed on the paper -"give me alms for the love of god" -appeal to the viewer for mercy that is counter reformatory in nature -blessed are the merciful and poor
"Still Life with Lemons, Oranges and Cup", Francisco de Zurbaran, 1633
-black, neutral background -sacramental sobriety: liturgical vessels on an altar -3 dimensional plasticity -these types of still lives intended to bring the viewer beyond themselves and see the potential for spirituality
The Marriage of Isaac and Rebecca, Claude Lorrain, 1648
-both old testament subjects that draw on patriarchal literature -refer directly to christ with men in the story as precursors to jesus -dominant party scene -esoteric iconography
"Garden of Love", Peter Paul Rubens, 1632-34
-celebration of love and life -complex composition and meaning -sense of movement -richly painterly brushworks -richly dressed couples who enjoy eachother's company outside by a fountain of venus and the fates -painting about romance and couples -personal image that references/modled after Ruben's second wife -"conversatia a la mode": high fashion conversation that refers to the intermingling of men and women -type of image that would impact later painters -informed by books of etiquette
"Still Life with Nautilus Cup", Willem Kalf, 1660
-chinese glassware and shell cup that was imported -transformed from the world of nature to culture -contrasts of dark vs light, bitter vs sweet, domestic vs foreign, open vs closed -pronk: luxurious still life -larger message: cup has scene of Jonah emerges from the whale that communicates the idea of salvation and vanitas
"Magdalena Ventura with Her Husband" Jusepe de Ribera, 1631
-comissioned by the viceroy of naples -image of a woman with a beard breastfeeding her daughter with her husband next to her -extremely masculine face -documentary character recording the appearance of this woman -the blocks on the side have text inscriptions of the figures -woman who suffered from excessive hair growth -bizarre sense of mystery, strange masculinity and bitterness of her husband -stylistically still mirrors Caravaggio -brushwork is precise but dramatic rendering of texture -basket with sewing materials that is indicative of femininity -painted from life: direct confrontation with the model -jab at the classical side of idealization -role as a mother also emphasizes her femininity -reference to mary breastfeeding Jesus
"The Doctor's Visit", Jan Steen, 1663-56
-commedia dell'arte -loved to paint scenes of drunkenness and comic nature -small scale intimate work -favorite and most demanded subject -male doctor with female patient who is lovesick -erotic melancholy -painting of Venus and Adonis usually put in the scenes -guy holding the fish is an inserted self portrait of the artist -details love sickness: taking her pulse, burning a ribbon -doctor's costume is borrowed from theater: quak doctor trope -herring is an attribute of carnival season
"The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Tulp", Rembrandt van Rijn, 1632
-commissioned by Dr. Tulp, the head of the barber surgeon guild -group portrait:iconic type of image and typical of the democratic netherlandish society -novel version of the group portrait, showing the event in progress -Dr. Tulp is isolated and placed against a niche to be identified -heavy concentration on the cadaver that is dramatically spotlit -anatomy was the forefront of medicine and progress -common image to depict and there were public demonstrations for people to go -this painting depicts a private, intimate affair -names of the figures printed on the book -depicts a heightened moment of the lesson -awkward foreshortening of the lesson -tight knit design
"Landscape with calm", Nicolas Poussin, 1651
-conceived as a contrastive pair -antithesis of storm -dusty light -calm and balance nature with structures of cubist precision -tranquil and refined color/light -interest in optical effects with the reflection in the lake -interplay of the sky with its reflection
"Landscape with storm", Nicolas Poussin, 1651
-conceived as a contrastive pair -terror of the storm in the Roman countryside -both animals and people jolted by the storm -evokes nature in its violent capacity -contrast in the two pieces reflected in the difference in brushworks -both scenes perfected and idealized
"Lady Standing at the Virginals", Vermeer, 1670
-corner of room with left window -immediate foreground has a chair -figure directs her gaze at the viewer
"Holy Family on the Steps", Nicolas Poussin, 1648
-devotional painting for the master of the royal hunt -clear, lucid use of Poussin's use of logic -included Elizabeth and St. John the Baptist -rigid and classical architecture -whole painting organized on geometry -figures form an isosceles triangle drawn from high Renaissance -red blue and yellow colors in a classical triad used by Poussin -drawings made from looking at models in a camera obscura -draws the viewer in by putting the peaches over the edge of the steps -primary perspective is the viewer's vantage point -drawing on ancient/Renaissance models
"The Arcadian Shepards", Nicolas Poussin, 1640s
-different side/mode of Poussin that poetic/philosophical -stone tomb rises in the setting -golden/blue classically draped muse figures by 3 shepard figures who read the tomb inscription, turning to the muse to help them understand -calm, classical equilibrium with reduced figures -historical dress -Arcadia is a pastoral, idyllic realm -elevation of pictorial imagery to poetry -detailed landscape that lends itself to the contemplative theme which is enforced by the quiet form of the figures
"Landscape with St. John at Patmos", Nicolas Poussin, 1640
-distinct typology that has an emphasis on order and balance -geometric clarity and simplification of form -balance and harmony of the elements -Patmos is the island where St. John composed the gospel books
"Woman Drinking with Soldiers", Pieter de Hooch, 1658
-distinctive look and quality: anecdotal and diminutive figures -open window, map and painting: taken from Vermeer -woman seated, raising her glass to be refilled, interacting with the man behind her -foreground, secondary and tertiary space -painting of Christ and the adulterous woman: interaction is suspect, woman is a possible procuress -dogs allude to carnality
"Still Life with Chinese Bowl", Willem Kalf, 1662
-drastically understated -dramatic chiaroscuro and dark setting -open and abbreviated brushstrokes -painterly feel -peeled lemon with confrontational proximity -Turkish carpet bunched on the table -mastery of color against dark tonality -calls for close scrutiny and savoring
"Raising from the Cross", Peter Paul Rubens, 1611-14
-established a large workshop to meet the demands of his commissions -religious commissions like this altarpiece -his interpretations directly worked with the council of trent -3 separate panels -extensive narrative with st john and mary (left) and on the right, thieves who are crucified with Jesus (right) -central scheme presents a horrific event presented in a timeless way -depth, abstract surface pattern, baroque intensity, curling composition, dynamic movement -venetian tradition with the inclusion of the dog -demonstrates Rubens talent as an artist -exaggerated musculature -used live models: fusion of naturalism and intensification of the figures
"Hundred Guilder Print", Rembrandt van Rijn, 1640s
-etching -so popular that Rembrandt had to buy his own print -excelled at the technique of etching, experimented using different types of of paper -depicts different moments from Christ's ministry -"suffer the children" and people in need of spiritual salvation surround Jesus -internal moving composition -used Jewish human models -rich velvety black and hatching in every form
"Still life with flowers in a Niche", Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder, 1618
-father of the dynasty of flower painters -valuable commodities -vivid naturalism and presentation -executed in miniatures, disappearance of of the brushstrokes -extraordinary attention to each detail -takes great pain to render every detail with great specificty -rendering of insects -attention to exoticism -engage the world of botany and entomology -recognized as communicating that the natural world is fleeting -gods message: beauty is transient and doesn't last -pictorial trope of the fly: so real that people would try to sweep it off the painting -flower pictures valued for their portrait like quality -each flower studied individually and the arrangement is fictional
"Water Seller of Seville", Diego Velazquez, 1619-1620
-fig in the water for refreshment -raises the bodegone to a new level with solemnity and sacramental air -precision of surface rendering -naturalism was the foundation of spanish art -possible allegory but based on a real person who did charity work -expression the christian message of charity
"Young Woman with a Water Jug", Vermeer, 1660/65
-glowing painting of a single figure -repeated subject -isolated from the viewer that is suggested by the table that blocks the woman from the viewer -figure in the state of self absorption -table provides a psychological sense of seclusion -painting that is consumate in its clarity -balance and equilibrium: he was a slow painter -increasing simplification of form -not concerned with careful bone structure and antomy -optical qualities of the reflection of the carpet on the golden platter -map showing all of the Dutch provinces -possible allusion of purity with the bowl/pitcher of water -pearl like tonality
"Lady Seated at the Virginals", Vermeer, 1671
-greater reduction of form and simplification -interested in pattern and vividness of color -perspectival rendering of the floor -upper class home -lady dominates our attention -hands overlap the painting on the back wall -the painting is Baburen's "The procuress" that was owned by Vermeer's mother: metaphor for music and lovemaking, lady is soliciting sex
"Kitchen Scene with Christ in the House of Martha and Mary", Diego Velazquez, 1619,
-half length figures against a neutral backdrop -naturalism -use of live models -food and utensils typical of a spanish kitchen -equal attention paid to figures and objects -overall tonality and limited color -simplification of form -small religious parable in the corner showing Christ in the house of Martha and Mary: parable about active vs contemplative life -who are the figures in the foreground? -old (spiritual values)vs young (action) -food are symbolic symbol: fish (jesus) -religious scene included in a secular setting -disjunction of spacial discrepancies -looser brush strokes of the religious image -intentional ambiguity
"Self-Portrait", Rembrandt van Rijn, 1658
-hardship after his mother's and wife's death -helped when Hendrickje Stoffleles entered hislife as his lover and model -tireless in his inventive powers and drawings -1650s: had debt from loans and borrowed money and forced to file for bankruptcy -grandest and profound self portrait where he presents himself 3/4 length against a neutral backdrop -the image of a noble, not broken man -adopting a kingly/pope convention of portraiture -his pose asserts the message of "prince of painters" -kingly and romanticized costume: vaguely orientalized -stoic expression reads some of the psychology -thick paint to create 3D
"Old Woman Frying Eggs", Diego Velazquez, 1618
-he rarely signed works -salary court painter, not paid per commission -perfect imitation of food/drink, great use of coloring -"bodegon" genre of painting: given to paintings that include food and drink, new genre -"painter of low and course themes" -element of the mundane where human emotion seems virtually absent -strong spanish tennebrism -retrained palette of earth tones modelled in light and dark -study of and masterful rendering of surfaces -embraced naturalism as the foundation of his art -repetition of ovular shapes -informed by the traditions of spanish literature: parallelism
"Marie de Medici Cycle", Peter Paul Rubens, 1622-25
-heavy mythological symbolism, represents the meeting of Marie and her husband -her arrival in Paris with great pageantry -idealized version of her life and education -vast cycle of political propaganda -complex iconography which required knowledge of myth and history -had to abandoned truth to glorify Marie -aggrandizing historical events with myth
"Immaculate Conception" and "St. John on Patmos", Diego Velazquez, 1619
-his father in law oversaw the religious imagery to make sure it was orthodox -pictures painted as a pair for a carmelite convent -based on the idea that Mary was also free of original sin -new/unique iconography to describe mary's immaculate nature: sun, crown of 10 stars, crescent moon -cult of the immaculate virgin was popular in Seville -St. John writing the book of revelations that described the immaculate virgin -strong naturalistic style used for religious painting -john experiences a vision where he sees Mary -artist used his wife as the model for Mary -transition from the interior vision of St. John to interpretation -St. John is a portrait of Velazquez
Rebecca and Eliezer at the Well", Nicolas Poussin, 1648
-historical subject from book of gensis -Rebecca offers water and makes Eliezer realize she is the proper wife for Isaac -backdrop of architecture and landscape -light provides clarity to the figures -range of gesture and expression -influence on the next generation of French artists
"Death of Meleager", Charles le Brun, 1660
-history painting in the grand manner -series of large canvas paintings about meleager -meleager cursed by the fates as his life was tied to a burning log -figures arranged across the foreground stage -stripped of his power and armor, barechest -looks up to weeping Atlanta with pleading eyes -derivitive of Poussin's 'Death of Germanicus' -decorum linked to age and gender -deliberate organization of figures historically accurate dress -epic presentation, less clarity of form
"Vanitas Still life with a Violin and Glass Ball", Pieter Claesz, 1628
-images of learning and death -similar objects to the other skull painting -very prominent use of the violin: music is ephemeral -baroque interest in time and transience -reflection of the artist in the glass ball: momentary fleeting quality -glass ball is a symbol of transience, won't last forever -subject about the art of painting and the omnipotent nature of painters
"Virgin and Christ in the House of Nazareth" Francisco de Zurbaran, 1640
-insistent attention on objects -interest in the childhood of christ -image with no written textual example or identification -informed by sermons of the day -interest in christs suffering -mary sewing and crying as she looks at her son with the crown of thorns -combine present and future events: points forward to his death
"Danae", Rembrandt van Rijn, 1636
-interest in mythological subjects that he approaches with unique vision -princess imprisoned in a brass tower by her father to keep her from coming in contact with any man -Jupiter visits her in the form of golden rain that impregnates her and she births Perseus -remarkable originality -classical female nude rooted in observations of a nude model and inspired by classical venus -both figures sense a visitor -gilded cupid reinforces the mythological subject -long pictorial tradition of this image in history -sense of anticipation and arrival -interpretation using light
"Still Life with Lobster", Jan Davidsz de Heem, 1648
-international figure whose works were avidly sought after -specialized in the sumptuous/wealthy display -display of expensive fruit, food, and vessels -surface as naturalistic painting -"fine painting" miniature like rendering of the surface -feast for the eyes and testament of wealth -curtain being drawn back
"Abduction of the Daughters of Leucippus", Peter Paul Rubens, 1618
-interpreter of ancient mythology and approached it with affection and familiarity -fleshy subjects -taken from writings of Ovid -abduction by the twin demi-gods, sons of jupiter, of the 2 daughters of the king of Leucippus -obscure subject that was on some ancient coffins -shallow stage with tight composition and low horizon which lends to monumental figures/prescence -impression of violence -sharp diagonals -contrasts in hues, textures, gender, body, animal vs human -rich, painterly, vibrant brushwork -political allegory as the 2 mean were likened to make kings: possible representation of military prowess or allegory for alliance between france and spain
"Still life Parrots", Jan Davidsz de Heem, 1655
-large and elaborate -even more elaborate display of fruits -rich brocaded cloth -speaks directly to the Dutch international trade -new, outdoor terrace setting: aspirations to transcend to landscape painting -mandmade and natural objects -speaks to acquisition and ownership
"The Night Watch" Rembrandt van Rijn, 1642
-largest and most famous work -commissioned as a group portrait of militia company -cut down at the edges -transform this group portrait into something new -image of movement and dynamic interplay -makes this image an immortal icon -meant to hang in the militia company's great hall -makes it a virtual history painting -sense of drive and energy especially through activity -dramatic spot light -portraits of each individual -capitain cocq activates the viewers space as he walks forward -can see various movements in the life of a musketeer -exiting a building that is dark but scene is during the day evident from the spotlight lighting -interest in unified pictorial space -sense of spatial continuity with the viewer -who is the golden girl with the chicken?
"St. Serapion", Francisco de Zurbaran, 1628
-major commission from "our lady of mercy" monastery -commissioned when the monks were redecorating -St. Serapion fought the moors and entered into the merced order; acted as hostages to liberate christian slaves -martyred when he was tied to poles, beat up, dismembered and his head partially severed -small devotional image -his robe conceals the violence done to his body except for his dangling, partly severed head -physical immediacy -iconic image for focus of prayers and meditation -image meant as an example for the monks, example of acceptance of suffering -reminiscent of christs hanging head during the crucifixion -power of his art -sculptural in the treatment of the drapery -means to a larger end -illusionistic piece of paper where Zurbaran signed his name, reminding us this is a painting
"Self Portrait with Isabella Brant", Peter Paul Rubens, 1609
-married 19 year old Isabella Brant -visual testament to their marriage vows -direct confrontation of the viewer with their gaze -close to the picture frame, fills up the canvas -framed by the tree -perspective slightly from below -painting that commemorates their love and vows -recalls the "arnolfini wedding portrait" -deeply rooted in the catholic sacrament of marriage but also deeply rooted in love -hands are an emblem for the bonds and mutual dependence -placement of the figures recalls the martial gender roles -honeysuckle tree: sweetness of their union -fancy clothing indicative of their status and Rubens is positioning himself as an aristocrat
"Las Meninas", Diego Velazquez, 1656
-masterpiece rich in ambiguity -very large work -his biographer, Antonio Palomino, described this work in great detail -a mirror in the back showed that Velazquez was possibly painting a portrait of the king/queen -several Rubens paintings hung around the room -distance and reduction of scale -new invention of perspective -truth, not painting: theology of painting -masterpiece of tone, expression, and spacial construction -diminishing of space to create a sense of movement -painterly technique is evocative and suggestive -composition, perspective, likeness, interest in visual truth, light, color, distance, unify air/light -what is the true subject of this painting? -what is the plot? -what is the painting he's painting -says a lot about Diego Velazquez's role as court painter: proximity of him to the king and queen suggests the nobility of painting -other reading: more conceptually oriented questions about the nature of representation as glances are exchanged between the figures and the viewers in a reflexive mutual fixation -centers: the infanta, king/queen, guy in the door -large sense of ambiguity -the reflection is that of reality and art -deep thinking about representation
"The Artists's Studio", Vermeer, 1670
-more complex space and image -figure painting a woman with a crown of leaves -light streams in from the left and illuminates the model -perspectival recession with the use of furniture -the painter is often identified as Vermeer but it's not him because the costume is french -the model is Clio, the muse of history and allegory of fame -allegory painting the muse of history to ensure his fame -curtain drawn back to reveal the scene: most prized painting always concealed by a curtain -Vermeer saying his works are important
"St. Francis Kneeling with a Skull", Francisco de Zurbaran, 1659
-new iconography of St. Francis as the poetic monk -represent the saint in historically accurate ways -simple expression of humility and coarse clothing -represents him in the act of prayer and contemplating his death -landscape setting -looks up as if he hears the divine word of god -close up presentation -evokes the divine through the rendering of expression -naturalism transcends the everyday
"Landscape with burial of Phocion", Nicolas Poussin, 1648
-obsessive intellectual detail -one of the greatest achievements in classical landscape -heroic in theme and composition -landscape can serve and embody a complex range of ideas -4th century athenian general who was an adherent to stoicism -Phocion's life was based on deeply held principles and stern character; he was a wise and cautious general -athenian government collapsed during his life and he supported the oligarchs (nobles) -he was executed after he committed treason and had to be buried outside of Athens -foreground wedge -eye laid back in to space, led by the paths in the space -unprecedented in its clarity -can see the great athenian monuments rising up -dominated by earth tones that evoke the ruggedness of the landscape -recreates Athens the best that he can based on archaeology -includes a detail from the day Phocion was executed with the procession of Zeus -Phocion's death symbolizes the vulnerability of the wealthy french -nature constructed and informed by stoic philosophy
"Repentant Magdalen", Georges de La Tour, 1637-39
-one with the wooden cross on the table and the stack of books, possible the bible
"Dissolute Household", Jan Steen, 1668
-overabundance of details that illustrate drunkenness -smoker that is a self portrait who leers at the viewer and puts his leg on the woman who is a pr*stitute -additional erotic details: oyster shells, monkey, fruits, and scattered playing cards -"the wh*res have the cards" -taps in to contemporary mores -mistress of the house has fallen asleep
"St. Jerome and the Angel of Judgement", Jusepe de Ribera, 1626
-painted for an altarpiece -painted the ascetic saint jerome who was a major religious figure -represented as an aging penitent saint -follows the reformation of the catholic church -represent his translation fo the bible from hebrew to latin -major doctor of the church: high status but his presentation is a product of the counter reformation, showing a connection between saints and good -divine revelation with the light -sense of movement and dynamism -effort made to capture the weathered skin -outward manifestation of the inner working of the soul
"Rokeby Venus", Diego Velazquez, 1648-51
-painter of painters -extraordinary artistic vision rooted in naturalism -open brush stroke and painterly nature was developed in his later works -large, almost life size figure -debates over when it was painted -evocative and sensuous nude -portrayal of Venus as a living/real woman, no real mythological visual language/symbolism -toilette of Venus -argues that it was painted in Italy, female nudes rarely painted in spain -only surviving female non-religious nude in Spanish art until De Goya -rear view of venus inspired by the "sleeping hermaphrodite" statue of venus as well as the "Venus mirror" by Rubens -reclining Venus popular in Venice where Diego Velazquez often visited -painterly handling of colors and flesh directly inspired by venetian traditions -body differs because of the naturalistic treament -embraces a common subject from a fresh view -mirror is the central focus of the picture: the curve of the curtain draws the viewer's eye right to this element -reflection is suggestive and not overly defined -painted for the male viewer: objectification of her body -the mirror makes her more observable -theoretical role of the mirror: demonstrating the artists skill and power of painting with multiple perspectives: paragone -empowerment of the mirror, Venus can look back at the male gaze -based on the position/angle, her face would not have actually been reflected -manipulate reality with the mirror
"Allegory of the Senses", Jusepe de Ribera, 1615
-sight, smell, taste, touch -style greatly informed by Caravaggio -art informed by an insistent naturalism -tennebrism -naturalistic information about the senses -rustic figure, not idealized holding a telescope, glasses on the table with a mirror -straight forward presentation -smell: half length, hold an onion and garlic and jasmine flower on the table -sense of humor in the pieces -sense of taste: larger figure -touch: man who appears to be blind, feeling the contours of a classical bust -thick painterly application of paint
"Landscape with St. Matthew", Nicolas Poussin, 1640
-part of the landscape with evangelists series -timeless serenity and nobility -calm and structured -human figures are focused in attention but small in scale -intended to present images better than could be found in nature -his attribute is an angel and is seated in the foreground that expands into a deep landscape setting -tradition of the grand panoramic setting -both works show the Carracci conventions of the division of space/depth as well as arial perspective -landscape serves to frame and structure the image -images of nature that is made more rational with intellect and geometric structure -"supernatural quality": beyond what nature could actually produce -Poussin seeks to perfect nature -sublime power of nature as it dominates the human figures -ruins are references to the pagan past destroyed
"Massacre of the Innocents", Nicolas Poussin, 1629
-patron: critic who also collected caravaggio's work -biblical subject dealing with the death of all the children in Bethlehem to prevent the birth of the Messiah -brutal horror and death that focuses on dramatic confrontation -emphasis on gesture and expression of an almost classical interpretation -usually this story is depicted with many figures but this piece is distilled -reduction of figures is typical of Poussin -subject, concept, structure, style=history painting -reduct the scene to the dramatic core
"Embarkation of the Queen of Sheba", Claude Lorrain, 1648
-patron: the pope's family to celebrate a marriage of the papal family -pendant pair with "Marriage of Isaac and Rebecca" -both old testament subjects that draw on patriarchal literature -refer directly to christ with men in the story as precursors to jesus -women are the embodiment of the church -subject seems secondary to the aesthetic dominance
"Death of Germanicus", Nicolas Poussin, 1628
-private cabinet picture painted for Barberini -subject drawn from ancient Roman history: shows Tiberius' jealousy of his adoptive son Germanicus -after being poisoned, Germanicus instructs his followers to avenge his death -Poussin has a full command in the vocabulary of ancient Rome -looks to Raphael and the Carraccis -depicts a story that relays moral conduct -visually recreate history as close to fact as possible with accurate costume, form and setting -frieze like arrangement of figures placed in the immediate foreground -blue curtain is a foil to read the primary composition -interested in 3 dimensionality (relief style) -combining reserve with strong emotional tenor of individual responses -doric order=masculine -emotions appropriate to each gender/age group of the figures -allusion to before (bust of Tiberius), during (the death of germanicus) and after (the presence of Germanicus' son who will avenge his death) -artist will switch modes based on subject
"Phillip IV in Brown and Silver", Diego Velazquez, 1631
-produced many paintings of members of the royal family -still stance, full length with a drapery background -pictorial flourish used in the treatment of the clothes -slightly idealized Hapsburg jaw -gloved hands=aristocratic -honorific canopy -chair=kings can sit but common people can't
"Sumptuous Tabletop Still Life", Pieter Claesz, 1648
-pronkstilleven: still life with luxury banquet -vivavious, rich color, palette and range of luxurious objects -"banquet piece" -preferred simple compositions but the banquet scenes were popular instead -hanging curled lemon peel -collaborated with an artist who was a masterful fruit painter -pulling back the curtain on this luxurious scene
"Rape of the Sabine Women", Nicolas Poussin, 1634-35
-realm of ancient Roman history based on Livy -days when there was a shortage of Roman women so they kidnapped the Sabine women -scene in a basic context that is evocative of the Roman forum -dozens of figures in action with a foreground stage and the outreached arms of the women guide the viewer's eyes -controlled sense of violence -use of expression and gesture that lets us read each of the figures -must present actions according to reason -sense of order and idealization with structure
"The Four Seasons", Nicolas Poussin, 1660-64
-recalls illuminated manuscripts -series of 4 paintings that are also allegories, characterizing the seasons in complex ways -meant to be read on 3 levels: the season/time of day, bible stories and Christian time -subjects drawn from the old testament -cycle is indicative of the genre of landscape Poussin was able to bring -metaphysical statements about the sublime force of nature
"Descent from the Cross", Rembrandt van Rijn, 1633
-received a major commission that he got through his close friend who was in city government -executive 5 scenes of the passion of christ for either the mayor of Prince of orange -conceived of as history paintings of religious subject since the Dutch are protestant -inspired by Rubens version that was copied in a print -masterly arrangement of the figures in space -awkward proportions and placement -dark landscape setting, spotlit figures that are lowering his body -space in the foreground inviting the viewer -insertion of his self portrait -weird mass of christs body -wanted to convey innate emotion
"Seaport with setting sun", Claude Lorrain, 1639
-recurring theme of seaport or harbor with arrival of ships -one of a pair with the partner piece of a rural landscape -most of his works were pendent pairs -imaginary harbor -wedge of foreground space with the series of figures -distant recession of buildings -based on some of his previous paintings -beauty, grandeur and evocative qualities -different monuments thrown together in imagination
"View of Delphi with a Procession", Claude Lorrain, 1650
-religious complex in the center -imagined landscape; buildings wouldn't be put together in this way -anticipates romanticism and the picturesque art movements
"Apollo and Marsyas", Jusepe de Ribera, 1637
-satyr Marsyas versus Apollo: Marsyas punishment is to be flayed alive -strong diagonal composition with the face of Marsyas confronting the viewer -naturalistic face of the figures -height of drama and suffering -Ribera demonstrating his mastery of depicting emotion demarcated through color
"Portrait of Marchesa Brigida Spinola-Doria", Peter Paul Rubens, 1606
-series of aristocratic portraits that became the basis for subsequent portraiture -depicts her after her marriage -contrasts Renaissance portraits of women by using 3/4 view -architectural backdrop to demonstrate her holdings -movement with the red fabric -ionic capitals characterized as feminine -movement heightened by the shimmery dress -convention of using fabric to highlight skin tone, reciprocity of color and veil of honor with the red fabric -spanish costume -self contained, proud, noble commanding, fan is evocative of aristocratic
"Woman Holding a Balance", Vermeer, 1665
-similar in characteristic and composition isolated single figure -open jewel box with pearls -darker picture with less light infiltration -image of utter simplicity and quiet -allegory of vanity since she is weighing gold/pearls? -painting of the last judgement: jesus weighing the souls -woman is a personification of vanity -figure is pregnant and the sex of the baby can be determined by weighing pearls -scales as a traditional symbol of justice? -pearls as an allusion to st. margaret, the intercessor of childbirth? -catholic ideas
"Surrender of Breda" Diego Velazquez, 1634-35
-spanish triumph over the netherlands -see the surrender of the keys to the city of Breda -scene from a play by Colderon de la Barca -2 commanders united by a gesture of sympathy and compassion -differs greatly from paintings of war
"Still life with Herring, Glass of Beer and a Roll", Pieter Claesz, 1636
-specialized in the table top still lifes: moralizing "vanitas" pictures -monochrome period: used for his early works that had a stark and limited range of usually earth tone colors -breakfast piece: Dutch breakfast scene arranged on the table -humble meal with a bowl of black pepper which was an exotic element -plate extends over the edge of the table -knife draws the viewer in: almost feel as if we've interrupted the meal -variety of textures rendered in great detail -meant to advocate for a temperate and humble life -possible lenten meal
"The Queen's of Persia before Alexander", Charles le Brun, 1661
-subject dear to Louis who was inspired by Alexander the Great -shows Alexander after he defeats Darius and spares the queens of Persia -attention to classical detail, gesture and expression -more open and freer composition, more accessible -rich, striking setting
"St. Sebastian Tended by Irene", Georges de La Tour, 1649
-the composition is monumental, as if the painting were depicting a sculptured tableau. -Recent observations on the possible dating of the costumes have left little doubt that the picture is rather later than the artist's lifetime. -Étienne de La Tour, the son of the artist was suggested (but not accepted) as the possible author. -Étienne de La Tour is actually documented as being required to continue his father's style, should the latter die inopportunely, and it is likely that he continued long into the 1660s and even the 1670s, painting ever-weaker versions of his father's work
"Las Hilanderas (the Spinners)", Diego Velazquez, 1656
-title given in the 18th century when it was thought to be a straightforward genre scene -determined true subject is the "fable of arachne" from ovid's "metamorphoses" -story about a famous weaver who became too proud, saying her house was as great as Athena's, who challenged the weaver to a weaving competition -it ended in a tie but Arachne was still declared the loser and transformed into a spider -Diego Velazquez's translation of this story through composition, characterization and pictorial handling -Pallas Athena in her disguise at the left with Arachne standing in the back at the right -highly abbreviated brush work -tapestry in the back depicting the "rape of europa" surrounded by women in 17th century costume -Viola hints to the transformation of Arachne into a spider since music was thought to be an anecdote to spider bites -homage to titian -formally/conceptually similar to "kitchen scene with christ in the house of martha and mary" -continuous narrative from the foreground prep of the yarn to the contest unfolding in the back: statement about art
"Descent from the Cross", Peter Paul Rubens, 1611-14
-triptych with the central panel representing the lowering of christs body -left depicts the visitation, the right depicts the presentation of baby Jesus in the temple -closed: scene of st. Christopher bringing the christ child -unifying theme of carrying: that's why st. christopher, traveler saint is used -red is unifying color -figures grouped in immediate foreground -strongly spotlit -heroic body of christ with stark white cloth -subdued violence -idealized heroic body rooted in Renaissance painting -graceful interplay of gesture that makes the viewer feel like are part of the event -power in the sense of restraint and serenity -intended as a spiritual meditation guide
"Soldier and Laughing Girl", Vermeer, 1657
-use of the camera obscura to produce masterful optical effects -master of quiet mystery -basic characteristics of his art: room with window on the left, far wall parallel to the picture plane, straightforward slice of life -soldier sits with his back to the viewer to lead us in the painting -reductive and simple -unnatural contrast between foreground and background elements -carefully composed and optically informed -map has an important composition role to represent contemporary political boundaries -allegory for the world beyond the room -undertone of tryst
"Still life with a Skull and Quill", Pieter Claesz, 1628
-vanitas image -objects drawn from the world of learning and pleasure (goblet) -skull and the lamp flickering out reminder of the temporal nature of life -life is short and material possessions are meaningless -"the arts will last" -play of textures and surfaces
"Self-Portrait", Rembrandt van Rijn, 1629
-where he was 23 yrs old, one of 60 self portraits -13% of his paintings are self portaits -not idealized self images and are frank representations -an understanding of himself was necessary to understanding others -can help develop technical skills like lights, costume, expression -see a desire to express his social standing and the desire to glorify his expression -blue diffuse light, oil painting -early expression of his self identity and attempt to assert himself as an established painter -fancy dress -paste like pigment to create texture -kind of tennebrism that is self inventive, light comes from an unknown source and rakes across the canvas -studying form against the neutral backgrop -directs his gaze at the viewer -elaborate costumes makes the painting romanticized -projection of self eminence
"Peasants in a Landscape", Louis Le Nain, 1642,
Louis painted a series of pastoral landscapes that recall the landscapes of his youth. -The spatial organization of the figures reveal the precise organization of the figures by Le Nain. -Fitted clothes and shoes suggest that the figures may be part of an emerging class of farmers. -Use of light and shadow to play off the figures.Slice of life, calm. Comissioned by rich people to show peasants waiting for their alms. Rich would dress their children up as peasants
