In this class, we first took a look at the Limbourg brothers’ Original Sin, which is a continuous narrative because four different scenes of Adam and Eve were depicted on the same canvas. What stood out to me is the position of Adam in the second scene, where Eve was leaning forwards to share the apple and Adam was kneeling down, a position similar to that of a defeated soldier depicted in some Greek and Roman Art. Here the scene illustrates the sense that Eve was forcing Adam for eating the apple. It’s also amazing to notice that in the last scene Adam and Eve were walking out of Eden into the white black paper sheet–our world. This design connects the painting with the audience’s world, which reminds me of other similar technics artists would like to use to build the bridge between the art world inside and the outside real world.

Then we moved on to the Scrovegni chapel. The fresco about the last judgment was placed at the exit and is impressive to me. It is interesting to see how the scene of Hell was depicted vividly on the right side of this huge fresco, where monsters were eating bodies and sinners were suffering in the body part where they committed sin. This definitely played an important role in reminding people to be conscious about their behavior or otherwise they will be sent to Hell by the last judgment.

In yesterday’s class, we looked at some works by the Limbourg Brothers and the story of the Scrovegni Chapel. Something that really did stand out for me in the class was way the culture and personal life influenced the works, especially those of the Limbourg Brothers. For example, in the Original Sin (before 1416), there was a fountain and a gate fully covered in gold. Professor Plesch brought to our remembrance the fact that the Brothers first worked under the watch of a goldsmith. That was very interesting to me and it brought to my mind, Raphael’s Entombment and how he included the woman who commissioned the piece. Culture also influenced the work, as seen in the body of Eve. She was painted with a body consistent with the ideal body of the time. This was very interesting to me and reminded me of many of the works we have seen where we see the hairstyles consistent of the era or incorporating the particular patrons included alongside historical characters.

Something that we talked about in class today was the Scrovegni Chapel and the art that adorns its walls. The chapel got covered in art thanks to Enrico degli Scrovegni who wanted to repent after hearing of the comments people would make about his father who was known as a terrible sinner. It was in his attempt to repent that he dedicated the chapel to the virgin. The blue ceiling was also a nod to this because while it was there to represent the sky, blue was also the color of the virgin and a color of wealth. What interested me the most about the chapel however, was The Last Judgement which you would see on your way out. This fresco included a depiction of a devilish figure eating human figures and other devils pushing down humans. This scene of hell also included images of contrapasso which was making you suffer by the area that made you commit the sin. When considering this, The Last Judgement is a daunting thing to look at, especially when it is at the exit of the chapel.

In Tuesday’s class we discussed the work Original Sin by the Limburg Brothers. We noted the continuous narrative of the painting and talked about how it is different from the cinematic progression of other artworks we have seen (cinematic progression is used for art that has multiple frames in it). In examining this painting, we also learned about the hierarchies of angels—archangels at the very top, followed closely by seraphims, who are represented as red angels because they are burning with the love of God. I also found it fascinating that the fountain and gates in the painting were in the gothic architectural style, and were gold. Both of these aspects of the fountain and gates grounded the painting in its time and to its artists. I also loved the detail of Adam and Eve walking through the gates into our world, bare and empty, which is represented as the white of the page.

Today, we talked about multiple works. One that specifically stood out to me was the Original Sin which continued on the theme of cinematic storytelling. This one was slightly different, though, because it was a continuous narrative. This means that the different moments are not depicted across different canvas’s, as seen in altarpieces, but all in the same image. Adam and Eve have 4 different scenes. The first one is Eve plucking the apple from the tree. The second is Eve almost forcing Adam into eating the apple. The third is God informing them of their sin. Lastly, the fourth is the angel expelling Adam and Eve from Eden and into Earth. I really liked this painting. It almost felt like a real life cartoon showing out the process of events and depicting a story through the contrasting colors and separate images.

I enjoyed our discussion of the Annunciation, from the Belles House by the Limbourg brothers. It was surprising that all the brothers passed away and the work was never finished. Their use of the color white was impressive as we spoke about the difficulty of creating shadows since you cannot merely use the color black for such details. The shading was especially impressive and their use of space within the painting set this piece apart from some of the others we reviewed.

In class on Thursday, we examined the collection of Duke of Berry who was an avid art collector. What I found most interesting about the Duke of Berry and art was how he used artwork to showcase his power and push artistic creations further in terms of naturalism. While artwork was long used to show off how wealthy the patron was, the Duke of Berry also used his collection to stand his place during power-struggling France. I found it really interesting how the Duke of Berry used gifting pieces of artwork as a way of reminding his family members that he was above them. Additionally, I always thought that the move towards naturalism in Renaissance artwork could only be attributed to the artist themselves. However, I was surprised to learn that patrons also had a hand in this push towards naturalism and more remarkable pieces of works. The Duke of Berry accomplished this by inviting artists to his court and challenging them to create better pieces of artwork than the ones he already owned. This makes me believe that powerful patrons such as the Duke of Berry were able to influence a lot of the artistic styles of the time.

This class we explored the collection of John, Duke of Berry. We began to dig into his extensive private collection of works. We particularly looked at his Books of Hours, which he had many. He took this function object and made them showpieces. Him owning multiple showed that he was acquiring them more just because he could, not necessarily for the intention that they were produced for. Another interesting aspect of The Duke of Berry’s collection is that he not only collected art, but artists as well. Berry brought in the Limbourgh brothers, who were some of the best manuscript artists at the time. He bailed them out of jail and gave them permanent residence is a large house. It shows how deeply invested Berry was in art at this time. It also shows the value of artists and their works among the both the average man buying a book of hour to pray with and the social elite who buy volumes of them and even house the artists who make them.

In this class, we explored the collections of John, Duke of Berry. He is the first example we have seen of individuals amassing large amounts of art for a personal collection. His activity trading and acquiring art simply to have and be able to show off a large array of works is unique among the other patrons we have discussed. This focus is especially shown by his six books of hours, which were typically only used for religious purchases. In owning so many, the Duke showed a departure from the typical functional way in which people viewed such objects and a devotion to art for its artistic value over traditional uses. Another way in which the Duke expanded his collections was through gathering artists themselves. Incorporating artists into the court and granting many, such as the Limbourg brothers, status nearing nobility made that court an artistic center in the region. I found it interesting how the Duke of Berry showed such passion for art compared to other powerful figures around him.

In class today, we talked about the midterm and then got into studying some more images from Books of Hours. In the first painting we examined, titled Original Sin, we see a telling of the story of Adam and Eve. It was interesting to see how Eve, and women in general, were portrayed as evil. On the left, we see the snake which tempted Adam and Eve, and the snake has Eve’s head. To the right of that, we see Eve standing over Adam in an aggressive stance, as Adam cowers in defeat. By making these artistic choices, the Limbourg brothers convey that women are responsible for man’s original sin. Women are the temptresses responsible for humanity’s fall from Eden.