This class we discussed the work Original Sin by the Limbourg Brothers and the way it makes use of a continuous narrative which shows the movement of time in one still picture. The image also has no border and the outside is white, representing our world on Earth. The white bareness represents the blandness of the world compared to the lush garden of Eden. We also discussed the functions of religious images which are to teach you something, to serve an emotional function, and mnemonic function. Finally we talked about Giotto and specifically his works in the Scrovegni Chapel that illustrate Christ’s life. He frames the work to draw the eye to the center of each piece. Some examples are the Adoration of the Magi, the Flight into Egypt, and Raising of the Lazarus. Each depicting Christ’s divinity or humbleness.
Author: Olivia Tomlin (Page 2 of 2)
During class we discussed the Duke of Berry and his collection of books of hours, which were expensive prayer books and used to show status and devotion. He was a bibliophile, someone who loves and collects books, and had an astounding collection of six books of hours. During the time period, only one book of hours is truly needed to show your devotion to Christ, and obtaining more is usually for separate reasons like status, or according to Duke of Berry, for collection. I thought it was interesting how it was believed that when you read the book of hours, you get visions. I also especially liked the example of Catherine of Cleves’ book of hours depiction. It showed a traditional family in the kitchen and represented the Virgin Mary, God and christ, portraying them as humans and creating a relatable image of the holy family. Not only was the picture humanizing, it also gives perspective of what the time period looked like which is interesting.
During class we discussed the story of St. Ursula and the Golden Legend which prompted the making of a series of paintings to illustrate her story. This piece was depicted like a still frame in a movie, and as it goes from left to right, it is almost animated and said to have “cinematic progression”. One thing I found interesting was how these images can be related to the confraternity that commissioned them. The ceremonial structure of the picture mirrors the confraternity’s own rituals. It also highlights the divide of secular and sacred. This is a common theme that is becoming apparent, the seperation of the secular and sacred. In St. Lucys Altarpiece the predella underneath each saint shows political loyalty of the commissioner. Also the Entombment was a product of Baglioni’s personal and political concerns and was also to be used during Mass.
This class we went over the Altar of the Holy Blood which introduced the importance of relics and at the end went over the Protestant Reformation. The Altar of the Holy Blood is very different than other altarpieces we have discussed so far as it is carved out of wood instead of being a painting. It began to be a popular way to display altarpieces in Germanic areas. This piece specifically was commissioned by the town council as to increase tourism because it was said to have a relic inside of it (drop of Christs blood I think?). This then draws tourists and can profit the town. Relics were very holy and decorated with rich color and detailed boxes to show their divinity. They were seen as a direct channel to God.
We also talked a bit about composition and the importance of how a painting is formatted and the overall color and position choices the artist made. As seen in The Entombment, there is a flow to the picture. The figures make almost a figure eight, which guides our eye throughout the picture, not just at the picture. The highlights and shadows also play a part in which areas stick out to us and which fall to the back, all premeditated ideas of the artist.
This class we discussed the Portinari Altarpiece and its many symbols and hidden meanings. I thought it was interesting how the artist made many small details to add depth and symbolism to the piece. The shoe for example, represents the sacred ground the people were on. Also, the colors of the flowers representing royalty (blue), purity (white) and passion (red). We also discussed some similarities between northern and southern Renaissance art. One being how both were making art more realistic, and they were able to do that will oil paints. It is more clear which pieces were made during what period just by looking at the attention to detail and the depth of the painting. Also, both the north and south had a common understanding of the purpose of the altarpieces and that was to being heaven and spiritual world to the “here and now”. They extended the church space into the holy world, allowing a more earnest prayer . They also had differences in the way the altarpieces were displayed, from the richness of the paint and and the emotions provoked. Northern art tended to be more emotional, detailed and used richer colors of red. Southern art was more heavenly, not so somber and gruesome and had a more blueish tone.
Today we discussed more of the Portinari Altarpiece and the Isenheim Altarpiece. I thought it was super interesting how it took four centuries to decipher the lurking devil in the background of the Portinari altarpiece. Personally, I can really see it, but it is super cool how an art historian found it. Then, we jumped to a northern piece, the Isenheim Altarpiece. Though the northern and southern altarpieces differ structurally, they both are beginning to create more somber, and emotional scenes throughout the Renaissance.
The Isenheim has many scenes depicted in one folding altarpiece, including an inaccurate but provoking image of the crucifixion. Jesus’ skin looked diseased, which could resemble to ergotism outbreak during the time period. The altarpiece was made for diseased people to pray in front of to heal their gangrene. Another figure on the altarpiece was Saint Sebastien who symbolized healing from illness, another way the Isenheim was used for those with ergotism.
This class we discussed compassion and the transition to more emotional pieces in Italian art and the growing idea of naturalism displayed in altarpieces. In the piece Entombment by Weyden, each figure in the piece show intense emotion highlighted by tiny details, postures and symbolism. Mary is seen in the same position as her son, showing how she feels his pain. in class we concluded that that is what compassion is, the shared pain of equals. Also it is interesting how her hand is between the skull and the foot of a living person, representing her state of being in between living and dead.
A similarity between northern and southern renaissance art was the growing naturalism in the paintings and altarpieces. As seen in the Ghent Altarpiece, Adam and Eve are painted with extreme detail and lighting making it seem like they are in the church with the congregation. This is not specific to northern renaissance art. the south also transitions to more detailed paintings that make sense of dimension and depth, adding to a feel of the altarpiece extending the space you are in, not being a flat wall to simply look at.
I enjoyed our conversation about purgatory and how it is uncommon to see depictions of the bridge between Heaven and Hell in Renaissance art. Not knowing much about what purgatory was, it was interesting to learn that one can manage to escape Hell and how fire is associated with cleansing ones sins. I also found the discussion of The Trinity interesting as I again don’t have much background on the religion behind it. I especially liked the way The Trinity can be depicted as three identical figures and also three individual figures, representing the same thing in different perspectives, usually being the idea of jesus being human and also a divine entity.
What mostly stuck out to me during todays class was the discussion of what progress means in terms of the art in the Renaissance vs. modern day. In a typical history class, “progress” is used to describe innovation, new and better ideas and the overall betterment of society. For the first time ever, todays class challenged that idea of what it means to progress. Who is to say the Renaissance period was not as good as modern day when it comes to art. As discussed in previous class, the idea of “period of the eye” and looking at the art of the time period through the lens of the people during that era. In whole, change does not always mean betterment, it is just movement through time and transformation.
I also noted the rise of humanism in relation to more individualized thought. In the book it wrote about how an artist was more of a skilled work, which makes sense because art was seen more as equipment or functionality over aesthetics. Altarpieces were very common art pieces and provided a foundation for the concept of “Art” as said by Johnson. Specifically, drawings were used to explain religious text and statues in public were used to glorify the power of Church and state.
One thing I should note is the idea of Humanism and its correlation to individualism and how these provoke new ideas and thoughts translated into the art of the Renaissance.