An Overview ofAn Overview ofArt HistoryArt History

HU300HU300Unit 6Unit 6

All Visual Art is ImitationAll Visual Art is Imitation• Aristotle’s word for imitation is Aristotle’s word for imitation is

“mimesis”; what the actor sought to “mimesis”; what the actor sought to do; to reveal the truth of human do; to reveal the truth of human beings.beings.

• Art as Imitation does this in two Art as Imitation does this in two essential ways:essential ways:– Art as Likeness:Art as Likeness:

• Rembrandt Van Rijn (top right)Rembrandt Van Rijn (top right)– ““The Jewish Bride,” 1667The Jewish Bride,” 1667

– Art as Alteration:Art as Alteration:• Wassily Kandinsky (bottom right)Wassily Kandinsky (bottom right)

– ““Composition VIII,” 1923Composition VIII,” 1923

• Within each essential form there Within each essential form there are any number of styles.are any number of styles.

• Some seek to paint what is there to Some seek to paint what is there to be painted, while others seek to be painted, while others seek to paint what is in the artist’s mind paint what is in the artist’s mind (and heart).(and heart).

Classical Art: Classical Art: Art as Likeness

Temple of Artemis in Ephesus

Sarcophagus of woman and dog;

Late Roman

Roman tile portrait

Grecian Urn

Classical Art -- quick facts:Classical Art -- quick facts:

• Classical art is noted for its strong sense of form, proportion and balance.

• Much of the art and architecture served the needs of the state.

• Classical art at first sought to idealize the human form; reaching for perfection (as the gods/goddesses were perfect). Much of the art of the Greek period was attributed to Phidias, a painter, sculptor and architect greatly admired in the 5th cy B.C.E.

• In the late 4th cy B.C.E., the emphasis shifted towards realism; with less depictions of idealized forms replaced by more life-like human qualities. Note the sculpture on p. 149 in TABH.

• Roman Art often depicted less serene, more dynamic forms that appealed to human passions.

Euclid’s “Golden Section”Euclid’s “Golden Section”

• This is a mathematical calculation of balance that states the most pleasing relationship between two connecting parts is such that the smaller is to the larger as the larger is to the sum of the two.

• It is expressed mathematically as a ratio of 1:1.68.

• The golden section finds its way into architecture and painting in the classical and subsequent art periods.

• Leonardo da Vinci was so impressed by this principle that he called it the “Divine Proportion.”

The Parthenon, Acropolis, GreeceThe Parthenon, Acropolis, GreeceEuclid’s Golden Section in ArchitectureEuclid’s Golden Section in Architecture

Slide reference from http://ccins.camosun.bc.ca/~jbritton/goldslide/jbgoldslide.htm

The Golden Section: the smaller is to the larger as the larger is to the sum of the two -- BC is to AB as AB is to AC.

A B C

Leonardo’s “Annunciation of the Virgin”Leonardo’s “Annunciation of the Virgin”

• Divide this painting into a square on Divide this painting into a square on the left and another on the right. (If it is the left and another on the right. (If it is a root-5 rectangle, these lines mark a root-5 rectangle, these lines mark out two golden-section rectangles as out two golden-section rectangles as the parts remaining after a square has the parts remaining after a square has been removed).been removed).

• Also mark in the lines across the Also mark in the lines across the picture which are 0·618 of the way up picture which are 0·618 of the way up and 0·618 of the way down it.and 0·618 of the way down it.

• Also mark in the vertical lines which Also mark in the vertical lines which are 0·618 of the way along from both are 0·618 of the way along from both ends. You will see that these lines ends. You will see that these lines mark out significant parts of the picture mark out significant parts of the picture or go through important objects.or go through important objects.

• You can then try marking lines that You can then try marking lines that divide these parts into their golden divide these parts into their golden sections too. sections too.

Reference from -- http://www.mcs.surrey.ac.uk/Personal/R.Knott/Fibonacci/fibInArt.html#daVinci

Byzantine ArtByzantine Art

Bust of Emperor ConstantineIcon of Madonna and Child

Byzantine and Medieval ArtByzantine and Medieval Art

• For nearly a 1000 years, the art world came under the For nearly a 1000 years, the art world came under the influence of the Christian church. (5influence of the Christian church. (5thth cy C.E. to 15 cy C.E. to 15thth cy cy C.E.).C.E.).

• Beginning with Emperor Constantine’s conversion to Beginning with Emperor Constantine’s conversion to Christianity, the church began a strong cultural mandate Christianity, the church began a strong cultural mandate in Western culture.in Western culture.

• The goal of art was to remind people of Jesus Christ, the The goal of art was to remind people of Jesus Christ, the saints and apostles and the story contained in Holy saints and apostles and the story contained in Holy Scriptures.Scriptures.

• Depictions of Christ showed his wisdom and depth (a Depictions of Christ showed his wisdom and depth (a more adult-like face even when showing him as a child.)more adult-like face even when showing him as a child.)

• The Pagan world of classical art was frowned upon.The Pagan world of classical art was frowned upon.

Medieval ArtMedieval Art

St. Peter with Keys

Cathedral Carving

Poitiers, France

Detail of stained glass;

From the cathedral at Chartres, France

Medieval ArtMedieval Art

Gargoyle; York Minster Cathedral

The Nave of York Minster

The RenaissanceThe Renaissance

“Mona Lisa” ( aka, La Gioconda) wood panel

Leonardo da Vinci; 1503-1506

“Renaissance” means “rebirth.” This period was known for its flowering in the arts, music and literature. Increasing emphasis was placed on essential human qualities and on freedom and individuality.

The three great art figures of this period are Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael.

Art and PatronageArt and Patronage• Italians were willing to spend a lot of money Italians were willing to spend a lot of money

on art.on art.– Art communicated social, political, and spiritual Art communicated social, political, and spiritual

values.values.– Italian banking & international trade interests Italian banking & international trade interests

had the money.had the money.

• Public art in Florence was organized and Public art in Florence was organized and supported by guilds.supported by guilds.

Therefore, the consumption of art was used as a form of competition for social & political status!

1. Realism & 1. Realism & ExpressionExpression

� Expulsion Expulsion fromfromthe Gardenthe Garden

� MasaccioMasaccio

� 14271427

� First nudes First nudes sincesinceclassical classical timestimes..

2. Perspective2. Perspective

Perspective!Perspective!Perspective!Perspective!Perspective!Perspective!

Perspective!Perspective!Perspective!Perspective!

First use First use of linear of linear

perspective!perspective!

Perspective!Perspective!Perspective!Perspective!

� The The TrinityTrinity

� MasaccioMasaccio

� 14271427

What you What you are, I once are, I once was; what I was; what I am, you will am, you will

become.become.

PerspectivePerspective

3. Classicism3. Classicism

� Greco-Roman influence.

� Secularism.

� Humanism.

� Individualism free standing figures.

� Symmetry/BalanceThe The “Classical Pose”“Classical Pose”

Medici “Venus” (1c)Medici “Venus” (1c)

4. Emphasis on 4. Emphasis on IndividualismIndividualism� Batista Sforza & Federico de Montefeltre: Batista Sforza & Federico de Montefeltre:

The Duke & Dutchess of UrbinoThe Duke & Dutchess of Urbino

� Piero della Francesca, 1465-1466.Piero della Francesca, 1465-1466.

Isabella d’Este –Isabella d’Este – da Vinci, da Vinci, 14991499� 1474-1539

� “First Lady of the Italian Renaissance.”

� Great patroness of the arts.

� Known during her time as “First Lady of the World!”

5. Geometrical 5. Geometrical Arrangement of Arrangement of

FiguresFigures� The Dreyfus The Dreyfus Madonna Madonna with the with the PomegranatPomegranatee

� Leonardo da Leonardo da VinciVinci

� 14691469

� The figure as The figure as architecture!architecture!

6. Light & 6. Light & Shadowing/Softening Shadowing/Softening

EdgesEdges

ChiaroscuroChiaroscuro

SfumatoSfumato

7. Artists as 7. Artists as Personalities/CelebritiesPersonalities/Celebrities

� Lives of the Lives of the Most Most Excellent Excellent Painters, Painters, Sculptors, andSculptors, andArchitectsArchitects

� Giorgio VasariGiorgio Vasari

� 15501550

Florence Under the Florence Under the MediciMedici

Medici ChapelMedici Chapel

The Medici PalaceThe Medici Palace

Filippo BrunelleschiFilippo Brunelleschi• Commissioned to Commissioned to

build the cathedral build the cathedral dome.dome.– Used unique Used unique

architectural architectural concepts.concepts.

• He studied the He studied the ancient ancient Pantheon in Rome.Pantheon in Rome.

• Used ribs for Used ribs for support.support.

Brunelleschi’s Brunelleschi’s DomeDome

Comparing DomesComparing Domes

Other Famous Other Famous DomesDomes

Il Duomo St. Peter’s St. Paul’s US capital

(Florence) (Rome) (London) (Washington)

The Ideal CityThe Ideal City Piero della Piero della

Francesca, 1470Francesca, 1470

Ghiberti – Ghiberti – Gates of ParadiseGates of ParadiseBaptistry Door, Florence – 1425 - Baptistry Door, Florence – 1425 -

14521452The Winner!The Winner!

� David by David by DonatelloDonatello

� 14301430

� First free-form bronze First free-form bronze since Roman times!since Roman times!

The Liberation The Liberation of Sculptureof Sculpture

DavidDavid

VerrocchioVerrocchio

1473 - 1473 - 14751475

The Baptism of ChristThe Baptism of Christ Verrocchio, 1472 - 1475Verrocchio, 1472 - 1475

Leonardo Leonardo da Vincida Vinci

� Vitruvian Vitruvian Man Man

� Leonardo daLeonardo daVinciVinci

� 14921492

TheTheL’uomoL’uomo

universauniversalele

The Renaissance “Man”The Renaissance “Man”

� Broad knowledge about many things in different fields.

� Deep knowledge/skill in one area.� Able to link information from

different areas/disciplines and create new knowledge.

� The Greek ideal of the “well-rounded man” was at the heart of Renaissance education.

1.1. Self-Portrait Self-Portrait -- da -- da Vinci, 1512Vinci, 1512

1452 - 15191452 - 1519

� Artist

� Sculptor

� Architect

� Scientist

� Engineer

� Inventor

Leonardo, Leonardo, the Artistthe Artist

� The Virgin The Virgin of the Rocks of the Rocks

� Leonardo daLeonardo daVinciVinci

� 1483-14861483-1486

Leonardo, the Artist:Leonardo, the Artist:From hisFrom hisNotebooks of over Notebooks of over 5000 5000

pages (1508-1519)pages (1508-1519)

Mona LisaMona Lisa – da Vinci, – da Vinci, 1503-41503-4

A Macaroni MonaA Macaroni Mona

ParodyParodyThe Best Form of Flattery?The Best Form of Flattery?

A Picasso MonaA Picasso Mona

An Andy Warhol MonaAn Andy Warhol Mona

A “Mona”ca A “Mona”ca LewinskyLewinsky

Mona LisaMona Lisa OROR da da Vinci??Vinci??