In this class, we discussed Hugo van der Goess’ Portinari altarpiece. It is interesting how he included a portrait of the commissioner and his kids. In this painting, we get to see how detail-oriented Florence artists are, and how much they love puns. Goes is able to be very detail-oriented due because he was using oil painting. For example, we are able to see that the flowers the artist chose have meaning, and the amount of petals/flowers he chose for each different type of flower. We see that in these types of altarpieces, they diss other religions. for example, the donkey is eating, not paying attention while the ox is paying attention. The donkey is in a way meant to represent the jews. Something really cool, even to this day, is that behind the ox, the devil is lurking. As I try to make the figure out, I can’t really make it figure out but it goes into play of a greater plan. The devil mustn’t know about Jesus and that he is meant to die for our sin, making him a victim of God’s plan. it is interesting how humans are always blaming the devil for their bad actions and temptations, when it’s all human thought and our deep thoughts. Christ’s nativity is his coming to the world in order for him to die for our sins, making it all God’s plan and the Devil just has to go with it. Matthias Grunewald, Insenheim altarpiece is truly an amazing piece. It opens up two times and each shows a different panel and story. Its purpose is to serve as salvation for sickly people who were being taken care of at the church. Again there is a lot of description and meaning behind the choices of items, like the toilet tin, the glass “kettle”, the bed, and the bath “tub”.