Paintings continued
Mona Lisa by Leonardo da vinci
24yr old Lisa del giaconda had just given birth to second son, childbirth hazardous and husband had already lost two wives. Reminiscent of Virgin Mary, pose and expression seen in benios madonna and ginevra. Dressed in height of florentine fashion but no symbol of wealth or status gives focus on virtue through expression. Workings of the mind. Shows likeness and emotional presence through sfumato around eyes and mouth. Countless glazes are used. Leonardo kept with him whole life.
Laurentian library by Michelangelo
A design that flouted most of the classical rules of order and stability, more mannerist. He United the long horizontal of the proper and the vertical of the vestibule. Much taller than it is wide and gives the impression of a vertically compressed shaft like space. Indifferent to classical norms in use of orders and proportion. Colours are used in pairs and placed into walls. Sculptured pilasters which taper down instead of upward. Broke through pediments as well as through cornices and string courses. Flowing stairway foreshadowed dramatic movement of baroque architecture. Interior space with conveys all the strains and tension found in his painted and statue figures. Only the reading room walls were completed. Two flights of stairs where meant to form a bridge but shifted to the middle a year later.beneath floor is rectangular red and white terracotta floor panels arranged to be visible under original furniture. Use of space was revolutionary as was the distribution of windows, construction of the ceiling, fine entrance of vestibule, bold and grace, cornices, niches for statues.
The battle of anghiari by Leonardo da vinci
A propaganda painting for the florentine council buildings other commission was given to Michelangelo. Both depict famous florentine victories. This one was against milanese who are depicted on left as evil. Studies were made to get harsh Mad expressions. Florentines on right are embodied as passive or more intellectual. Composition is a spiral and left to right is a prominent diagonal. Fell of the wall in Leonard's lifetime due to failed experiment with mediums. Rams head represents Amon/ Mars the God of war and the fleas coat represents animals.
Creation of Adam by Michelangelo
Adam is on a mound of earth so Adam= earth. Adams bod is appropriated from the belvedere torso. Exposes himself as does Noah as both have the duty to procreate the population. God explodes into the scene with a host of angels, is depicted like a regal philosopher with a beard which represents wisdom and purple which is the colour of royalty. Gods convex form is balanced by Adams concave form. The former is powerful and awe inspiring while the latter is depicted weak, feeble and frail. Julius ll acorns are close to God so links them together as powerful, oak and acorns all over ceiling to show patronage. Composition glorifies human body and So humanism. Could be taken as womb like and the green scarf as an umbilical cord to show creation.
Harmony
It is necessary to keep ones compass in ones eye and not in the hands, for the hand executes but the eye judges Michelangelo
Vertruvian man by Leonardo da vinci
Naked man shows humanist concepts. Square shows earth and circle heaven. Anatomically correct. Depicts complexity of mind and use of it. Different compositions Man are the wonders of the world but none so wonderful as man. Man the measure of all things.
Burlington house cartoon by Leonardo da Vinci
Before Virgin and child w st Anne and links. Used new support of paper for his drawing which came from the Chinese. Reduced the price as before this only supports were parchment from ancient Egypt which was very brittle so didn't last long or vellum which was calf skin and so expensive. 3d pyramidal structure. Figures linked by curves. Drapery shows the form of Ye body underneath. Anatomically correct. Light from above and bold chiaroscuro. Sweeping line of Anne's gaze. On the lap signifies the womb. Pare think sculpture could be an influence for Mary's knees under drapery. Light on Mary's face illuminated shines down to Jesus, Mary is the focal point. Foreshortening of Mary's hand light on knees adds to foreshortening as well. Animated movement creates space and composition.
Taddei madonna by Michelangelo
Carved for Francesco taddei shows mary, Christ nd John the Baptist playing with a goldfinch. This was another symbol for the passion which is why Christ recoils into Mary's arms, or could be a symbol for the human soul and by offering it John is suggesting he relinquish his responsibility of cleansing human souls, so recoils as this is impossible so his passion and death are inevitable. Christ is from a roman sarcophagus which shows Medea about to slaughter her sons to avenge Jason's marriage which draws parallels with Christs sacrifice. Usually tondos commissioned for tombs but these seem to be for prestige -owning a Michelangelo or piety- a votive image.
Pitti madonna by Michelangelo
Carved in high relief and figures are arranged in triangle format. Her stance is linked to the Sybil's in the Sistine chapel. Christ stands with one leg crossed over the other and it's curious how the book is used as a support.
San Lorenzo facade by Michelangelo
Comis by Leo x meant to have 15 relief carvings 12 marble statues and 6 bronze statues. Today on of Florence's most famous churches- Brunelleschi designed it. Burial site of the Medici dynasty and is a Medici church. Was going to be made of Carrara marble but left unfinished with no facade as Lorenzo de Medici dead in 1519
The adoration of the magi by Leonardo da vinci
Commissioned by San donato a scope to. St. Jerome one was laid aside so he could work on this. Last comis before left for Milan. As incomplete Filipino lippi got it. Where arguments about money as terminated contract.over 60 figures from all walks of life, daring and innovative as not a traditional representation of this event. Every figure gives a different action, response to the event with physiognomy. Show unbelievable, excitement and awe of event to viewer. Shows great understanding of human anatomy. Figures also shoe controposto poses and foreshortening. Whole composition bisected in half by two trees. Palm tree is tree of life, victory over death and carob tree which links with St. John as ate fruit from while in dessert, is seen beneath. Crumbling ruins in background show the fall of the Roman Empire and the start of a Christian one. Single point perspective scheme. Most figures gaze at Mary snd jesus directing our eye to them, focal point. Others scan sky for star of Bethlehem our eye is led up by gestures. Wise men - old long beard, wisdom, middle age and youth, black. Gold represents Christ, royalty frankincense- divinity, myrrh- Christs death.
Bruges madonna by Michelangelo
Commissioned for a Flemish cloth merchant for his chapel of Notre dame. Harmony, balance and poise with the verisimilitude of the child. Delicate drapery showing form, physiognomy all shows early Michelangelo. Echols is standing not seated which is probably rooted in classical antiquity. A calm and serene work lacking the exuberence and dynamism of his later pieces. Has been said to be an emotional vacuum as the vigils face is too long with narrow slit eyes and child and mother have no eye contact I.e mother no attention to son.
Virgin and child with st Anne by Leonardo da vinci
Dolomite mountains are in the background which run down the centre of Italy Leonardo climbed and sketched them. Dominant curve begins with at Anne through Mary's arm exiting with Christ. It links the three figures.pyramidial structure. Dynamic twisting and turning action with bodies and limbs interlocking and echoing. Form of the body underneath the drapery links to the Parthenon sculptures shows Greco roman influence. Rocks and pebbles are geologically correct. Light and aerial perspective. Unfinished face and Mary's dress. St Anne (Mary's mother) refrains mary who is trying to stop the christ child from holding the lamb. The lamb is a symbol of the passion. St Anne knows this is christs destiny and hence tries to restrain mary. Mary and st Anne both are have saintliness and purity, virtue which did not befit ageing hence their young representation.
Neoplatonism
Every living thing on earth is in a stage of being and becoming -Plato
The deluge by Michelangelo
Depicted the flood from genesis is the first of the 6 main panels in the Sistine chapel ceiling. Due to this has many small figures. One of the stories from genesis
The last judgement by michelangelo
Depicts christs second coming from revelations done in Bono fresco, good to heaven on the left damned plummet to hell on right. Christ is the focal point w Virgin Mary spins in a clockwise direction around the crntral focus. Used helinistic Greek statue of Hercules for models. Christs is crouching in an ambitious gesture blessing or condemning. No perspective just blue that contrasts with all other colours-mannerist. Also no space, irrational, unreasonal, antithesis of classical reason in art, no perspective, Alberts historian abandoned-end of high Renaissance. Meaning was that the maters died for their faith and so the public should do the same, combatting the reformation. All women clothed and men nude. Instruments of the passion at the top held by angels. Many saints bartholomeus- flayed alive and seen with skin which is a self portrait. Laurence roasted, Catherine wheel, petter has keys and is the largest figure in the painting as was the first pope and papal commission. John the Baptist camel skin. At bottom Charon waves his oar on the boat to take souls to hell. Angels blast trumpets. Church was going to destroy at one point due to nudes and men kissing but painted on clothes instead due to reformation.
Marys youth
Do you not know that chaste women retain their freshness longer than the unchaste by Michelangelo.
The Virgin of the rocks by Leonardo da Vinci
Exists in two versions. About the flight into Egypt which was when Herod ordered every baby boy to be killed as he heard there was a new king so Joseph, Mary, John and Christ escaped into Egypt. Similar landscape to the annunciation and relates to the Mountains running down the centre of Italy. Figures show amazing controposto poses. Mary's hand and christs arm held up in blessing are foreshortened. Chiaroscuro is used a,so there is a tonal unity. Most brightly lit areas have the most brillent colour. Light is directional and unifies the painting as passages are balanced. Luminosity is created by the reflected light-under Mary's chin and under hand. Precision in light effects from optical studies. Atmospheric perspective modulates from brown to blue. In cave which is a symbolic place of refuge and a symbol for Mary's womb. Pyramidal structure with Mary's head at the apex creating Mary's face as the focal point. Spotlight effect. Faces illuminated to draw attention. Most colour is over her womb in a sash which shows immaculate conception. Sea in background is called mare and relates to Mary. Plants are botanically correct and hold symbolism. St. John's wort protection from evil, ferns souls of pagans before converting to Christ, iris symbol of Mary, cyclamen at christs feet is a symbol of love and devotion.
Virgin and child enthroned with John the Baptist and Nicholas of Bari by Raphael
Focal point is about the hand of Virgin and child. Figures are not grouped but broken apart compared to m and l controposto poses. None of the figures make eye contact with the viewer. Linear perspective leads eye back into the distance using throne and architecture also has aerial perspective. Foreshortening in the hand of Nicholas form is seen beneath drapery. Figures are dark. Light comes from the top left there is overall illumination. Modulated colour of draperies.
Creation of eve by Michelangelo
God created eve from the rib of Adam while he slept, it is in the middle as it is fundamental to the catholic faith. She is linked to mary. Vigerio wrote that the church was created by a wound on the side of Christ as eve was created from Adam. After completion project was stopped for 18mths as Julius ll was fighting the French. After this shows new dynamic more mannerist approach with larger figures.
Creation of the sun moon and plants
God hurls himself onto the scene the off. There is amazing for shortening in the arm, Vasari says it is fully projecting into space but in a tiny square. After is seperation of light and dark.
St proculus by Michelangelo
Has the same facial features as David I.e is a precursor. Was an early Christian mature executed for murdering a solider.
Pieta by Michelangelo
He choose the block of marble himself from the Carrara quarry and brought it back to Rome. Is gracefully refined an shows skill, it shows grief but gent ally and peacefully which was revolutionary, is not a scene of revolution and horror such as in giottos lamentation. Uses a pyramidal composition to fix the problem of an adult being in another adults lap. Delicately carved drapery around the face shows philosophical reflection. Her youth is related to her purity as was depicted far to young to be Christs mother. Mary is much larger than Christ but still harmonious as head are same size. Deep drapery contrasts with Christs naked form, his arm gesture also gives a sense of repose and peacefulness. Cleverly linked to both lamentation and the madonna and child. Signed name -faciebat links with classical times as Phidias and praxitilles used this.
The madonna of the stairs by Michelangelo
His first sculpture fir the Medici,is inspired by Greco roman sculptures in the Medici courtyard. Carved in low relief usually used for a tomb uses Christian iconography but done in golden marble. Madonnas fet and Childs arm are clumsily worked, but is rim island of the prophets for the Sistine chapel. Is a portent of things to come, shows emerging style, body is seen through gently falling drapery. Holds a powerful sadness and emotion which shows Christs passion as an unevitable event and the steps allude to this, a ladder to the cross or stairway to heaven with an angel holding the shroud.
Middle of the Medici tomb by Michelangelo
Night is represented with her eyes open as cannot sleep her worn out body is due to childbirth etc. her foot is on Poppy's which contain the narcotic opium which induces sleep. A mask is underneath and was recrafted behind it is the only face that meets the eye of the viewer could also be a creature of the night or tormented features of the artist. Could be Michelangelo showing gratitude to patron ad Lorenzo the magnificent was to have been buried in its field of vision. Dawn wakes to face the day and dusk unfinished faces the end of the day weary old, grumpy waits for the night to fall and withdraws his gaze.
Doni tondo by michelangelo
In tempera, marriage commission. Tondo often associated with marriage. Leonardoesque pyramidial composition. Brillant clarity and bright mannerist colour. Tension is emphasised in tightly compressed figure grouping by the angular, sharp modelling and clashing or colour. It is stabilised by the horizontal stone wall which separates back and foreground. Blue skirt balances blue sky and upward gaze shows spirituality. Book shows wisdom, licked surfaces feminisation of sculpture. Christ is appropriated from a classical Recife of infants trampling grapes. Mary's womb is emphasised by line and Joseph on thigh shows role in the birth. Maybe relating to Bacchus who was also born twice. Circular shaped tank allude to the half moon insignia of strozzi family. Nudes are precursor to Sistine chapel and are painted with soft form. May be purely to show skill or may represent the five virtues. May be Neoplatonic divine energies - carnal love, sensual love, celestial love. Flower growing out of wall symbolises prophecy of isaiah. Water alludes to Mary. Joseph not normally included but in humanist circles holy family represented the perfect family and Joseph as ideal model for a groom.
Statues of Giuliano and Lorenzo by Michelangelo
In the Medici tomb l represents the active with his dynamic controposto pose he is alert with a musculature athletism. He hols the baton of command echos personality as he was arrogant and selfish , hated by the people. G on other hand was represented as the contemplative in an ancient thinking pose he is relaxed with just a hint of controposto. Elbow rests on a closed money box engraved with bat/ Lynx he also holds a mappa which was held by roman emperors to show authority. Draws parallels with his representation with people of being kind, passive and liked. The Neoplatonic theory embodied.
Mona Lisa quote
It seemed divine rather than human -Vasari
Neoplatonism in the Sistine chapel ceiling by Michelangelo
Many geometric shapes, triangle, circle and square as Plato said geometry explained the underlying pattern of the universe. 3platonic stages of life can be seen in composition, the world of matter, world of becoming and world of being. People in triangles 1 as surrounded by dark, devoid of faith and reason. 2 are the ignudi as they are the ideal, also could be thought to represent Angels from Christianity, represent reason and truth. In panels 1 is the drunkeness of Noah, 2 creation of Adam and 3 is represented by God dividing light from darkness as it symbolises the pure being. Each of the prophets and Sybil's are accompanied by genes who represent the physical active and the metaphysical, spiritual contemplative life. Light is reason, darkness is ignorance in splitting of light from dark.
Drunkeness of Noah by Michelangelo
Noah and his three sons Japheth, ham and Shem. Ham mocks, Shem tries to restrain and Japheth covers. Noah digging is first to plant a vineyard and get drunk off it.
Medici tombs by Michelangelo
Not concerned with realistic likeness more to do with conveying Neo platonic ideas. After 15 yrs abandoned as Charles v invaded. Patron was Leo x pope creating a tomb for his father Leo x and two sons Lorenzo and Giuliano. Lorenzo was a military commander while Giuliano was a captain of the church both positions of power. Underneath each statue are dawn and dusk and day and night Michelangelo first female nudes appropriated from males. Underneath was going to be ancient river gods- found in constantines arch in Rome and show fertility, growth providing the basics of civilisation and a theme for the tomb. Can see the disturbing effect of mannerism, figures are reminiscent of Sistine chapel but power has gone.
Fall of man by Michelangelo
Often told seperately but here are told together. Shows the original crime, sin and punishment. Satan is depicted as anthropomorphic with body and head depicted as a human women and a snake tail. Are androgynous portraits. Composition is split with the sea of knowledge. Both of Adam and Eve are appropriated from a relief in an ancient roman sarcophagus depicting Hercules in the garden of Hesperides.
Ginevra de benci by Leonardo da Vinci
Secular painting commissioned by platonic lover bandardo bembo. She was already married physiognomy conveys this looks closed off but also dignified. Both loved poet petrardri. Daughter of wealthy banker. Subtle modulation of surfaces. Innovative contropposto pose head faces but body twisted to the side giving multi view points. Triangle is created with face and shoulders and hair and face. Sfumato used. Her beauty provoked lust and passion in her lover, her virtue lifted his soul and reason. Spiky juniper bush contrasts with hair and skin and is a play on her name ginepro, gives stark chiaroscuro. Plants on back are symbolic of be,no and virtue says bluet you adorns virtue. Shows innovative technique of combining the landscape with portrait. Also shows aerial perspective.
Deposition/pieta
Shows deep despair and works on a vertical axis which runs through Christ and nicodemus who gave Christ his tomb, other figures are mary and Mary magdiline. The Virgin buckles under weight of Christ. Christ sags and his legs give way. No delicate modelling like previous pieta-progression to mannerism. Nicodemus is modelled on Michelangelo. Sculpture caused a scandal as mary is moved aside for nicodemus to take centre stage, Michelangelo with trying to bi pass the church to gain entry to heaven. Also Christs leg is swung over mary which is considered inappropriate, he threw out the window but was reassembled by Vasari and helpers.
The annunciation by Leonardo da vinci
The moment Mary is told of the immaculate conception, a very common subject in art. Propaganda of the church. Patron monte oliveto. Classical lectern with lions feet and acanthus flowers/leaves and shells. Uses it to link ancient and contemporary. Split reaction of g and m, m retains dignified grace, role model for all women.plants have been painted with botanical accuracy. Garden and lily are symbols of the Virgin Mary. Cyprus tree symbol of afterlife, cedar of God, pine everlasting life. Crafted using topery. Florentine landscape religious event placed in contemporary shows humanism. Viewers eye led down to the port with lighthouses, these are symbolic of Mary who is called Stella Maris- star of the sea. Drapery shows chiaroscuro and form
Rondanni pieta by Michelangelo
The mother and son merge together elongated and drooping. Evokes remorse and sorrow it is not finished and glossed .
Battle of the centaurs by michelangelo
Twisting and turning in a convulsive display. Shows Michelangelo ambivalence as either violet and dynamic or serene and peaceful. Is a story from ovids metamorphosis when the centaurs disrupt a Lapiths wedding and abucted the bride. On far left holding a rock is a crypto portrait of Michelangelo which is copying Phidias who did the same with the statue of Athens shield in the Parthenon. May represent his own torment or the torment of the human spirit as no actual centaurs or women, just focuses on the male form. At this time he started to dissect corpses and then left for Rome.
St Matthew by Michelangelo
Unfinished can see la Coons influence Michelangelo was there when dug up. Sculpture is straining to escape from the rock so similar. Linked this to the soul struggling to free itself from the body-np is twisting around a central axis writhing with energy and muscular power. Unfinished as after success of David had to many commissions
