Today in class, we discussed the Scenes from the life of Saint Ursula by Carpaccio. This painting was commissioned by the Confraternity of Saint Ursula. I found it interesting due to the fact that rather than being a single scene, the painting has an air of cinematic progression. It flows from left to right, following the viewer’s natural gaze. The artist anticipates the order in which the viewer will view the scenes, and uses that to his advantage in telling a linear story. We get multiple parts of the story within one singular image.
Another way in which Carpaccio directly engaged the viewer with the painting is through visual cues inviting the viewer into the painting itself. On the right, there are steps leading into the bedroom, and in the middle, there is an open gate in the fence. Both the steps and the gate face outwards, almost serving as a bridge between the real world and the world of the artwork. Both of these details allow the viewer to become part of the scene itself. Within a religious context, this link allows the viewer to deepen their worship of St. Ursula by being able to envision themselves within her story.