Bell Ringer – 9/19

BELL RINGER – 9/19 M.socrative.com – Room #38178

QUESTIONS: (multiple choice on devices) 1. Where did the Early Renaissance take

place? 2. What was there now a “set of rules” for? 3. Who were great patrons of Renaissance

artists and ideas?Binder Checks and Bell Ringer grades from the Elements of Art Unit will be passed back first thing tomorrow.

THE HIGH RENAISSANCEA Brief Overview

INTRODUCTION Approximately 1495-1527

Rome, Italy

A new concept: the concept of “genius” Leonardo da Vinci (today) and

Michelangelo Buonarroti (Friday)

INTRODUCTION The arts of the early Renaissance were

now regarded as naïve – not enough!

High Renaissance artists felt that they had developed further than any artist that preceded them

THE PAPAL STATES The Church wished to secure independence by

increasing its temporal and political strength The power of the papacy now grew through war!!

The Renaissance popes spent lavishly to construct vast churches, huge palaces, and magnificent fountains

They hired the best artists and artisans, collected the best antiques, the most expensive jewels, and the most remarkable books and manuscripts

Rome increased in splendor and the pope increased in majesty

THE PAPAL STATES The Church was now dependent on

vast influxes of money to support its extravagance

It required new taxes, the worst of which was the sale of indulgences One of the many causes that led to the

Reformation in northern Europe (more later – late Renaissance)

HIGH RENAISSANCE ARTPart 1: Introduction, Da Vinci

INTRODUCTION TO HIGH RENAISSANCE ART

Tricks of perspective or stunning renditions of anatomy were no longer enough – need MORE

Figures are still individuals Godlike human beings, but all different and

beautiful in their own way

Artists tried to emulate rather than imitate All wanted to create something new

INTRODUCTION TO HIGH RENAISSANCE ART

Artists set out to develop a system of mathematically defined proportion and compositional beauty Again, enamored with measuring things!

Sought a harmony of parts – UNITY! Brand new idea!

Believed that the world of nature, as well as the universe, possessed perfect order

CHARACTERISTICS Same as Early Renaissance with a few additions...

Includes a certain emotionalism that reflected the conflicts of the times Those corrupt popes...

Compositions were closed – line, color, and form kept the viewer’s eye continually redirected into the work as opposed to leading the eye off the canvas

The organizing principle of a painting was usually a geometric shape, such as a triangle or oval

LEONARDO DA VINCI

LEONARDO DA VINCI 1452-1519

At the age of 14, was an apprentice to Verrocchio, whose workshop was one of the finest in Florence. Verrocchio’s master was Donatello

Painted “Baptism of Christ” with Verrocchio. Da Vinci painted the young angel holding Jesus’ robe in

a manner that was so far superior to his master’s that Verrocchio put down his brush and never painted again

LEONARDO DA VINCI – BAPTISM OF CHRIST

LEONARDO DA VINCI His paintings incorporated sfumato

Sfumato: quality achieved by blending light and shadow

SMOOTH Transitions

One form disappears into another Low contrast

DA VINCI’S “VIRGIN ON THE ROCKS” Mary sits in the

midst of a dark world and shines forth from it

Protects the infant Christ, who blesses John the Baptist, whom the angel points

DA VINCI’S “VIRGIN ON THE ROCKS” Single central triangle

outlined in light

Leonardo takes the central triangle and gives it enough depth to make it a 3-d pyramid of considerable weight

DA VINCI’S “VIRGIN ON THE ROCKS” Light and shade are

delicately used, even though the highlights and shadows do not flow from consistent light sources

DA VINCI’S “THE LAST SUPPER”

We looked at this the second day of school, but it looked a little different. This is how, we believe, the original looked.

DA VINCI’S “THE LAST SUPPER”

Captures the moment at which the apostles are responding to Christ’s prophecy “one of you shall betray me”

DA VINCI’S “THE LAST SUPPER”

Weak medium: Da Vinci’s oils, varnish, and pigments were not suited to the damp wall This is a Tempera (egg-yolk), but the oil paint didn’t cooperate.

Fresco would’ve been a better choice.

DA VINCI’S “THE LAST SUPPER”

• The painting began to flake as early as 1517 (finished in 1498)

• Clouded by retouching• Defaced by a door cut through the wall at Christ’s feet• Bombed during World War II

DA VINCI’S “THE LAST SUPPER”

DA VINCI’S “THE LAST SUPPER” Human figures, not

architecture, are the focus Architecture creates

deep space

Christ dominates the center – focal point

DA VINCI’S “THE LAST SUPPER” Is it a closed

painting?

All lines lead outward from his face, pause at various subordinate focal areas, reverse direction at the edges and return to the central figure Closed? Yes

DA VINCI’S “THE LAST SUPPER” Various postures,

gestures, and groupings of the disciples direct the eye from point to point

Figures emerge from the architectural background due to high contrast colors

• Surprisingly calm mood• Reflects the turbulence

of Leonardo’s own personality at this time

DA VINCI’S “MONA LISA” Leonardo’s most

famous work

Possibly the most famous painting of ALL TIME

WHY?!

REASON 1: THE BACKGROUND The background draws

us in almost more than the subject

The background reveals an exciting mountain setting full of dramatic peaks and valleys, winding roads which disappear, and exquisitely detailed natural forms receding into the mists

REASON 2. THE SUBJECT Unusual in its treatment

of the full torso with the hands and arms pictured, Three quarters of the

figure is pictured NEVER BEEN DONE –

usually full body portraits!

Marked a new format in Italian portraiture and provided a model which has been followed ever since

Larger, grander, and more natural portrait

2. THE SUBJECT Strong central

triangle

THE MONA LISA POSEThe Mona Lisa had a HUGE impact on

photography!

The Mona Lisa Pose!!!

THE MONA LISA POSE

Today we look at Mona Lisa’s pose and it seems fairly normal but for its day it was quite revolutionary as most portraits at

the time were rigid and stiff and generally side profiles rather than front

on

THE MONA LISA POSE

Mona Lisa is somewhat relaxed and at ease as she leans upon the arm of a

chair with her hands crossed in a relaxed fashion

THE MONA LISA POSE

While she’s slightly turned to one side, she sits open to the viewer holding their

eye

THE MONA LISA POSE

Also, unusual for the time was the fact that Leonardo went against the norm

with the framing of this image and opted for a three quarter length pose rather than a full length one. In this way, he filled the frame with his subject which lends itself to an intimate image and

little room for distraction.

THE MONA LISA POSE

One of the compositional elements that the portrait is known for is Leonardo’s use of triangular composition which

shows the subject with a wider base at her arms and hands and everything is in place to draw the eye up her body to her

eyes and infamous “smile”

THE MONA LISA POSE Relaxed and at ease Slightly turned to one side Eye contact with the viewer 3/4s of her body in view Central triangle

THE MONA LISA POSE Go through the magazines and find 2 examples of the

“Mona Lisa Pose” in action Can be from articles, advertisements, anything!

Glue them to the plain piece of printer paper – briefly describe next to each photo HOW it resembles the “Mona Lisa Pose” Bullet points are fine

Turn in for a class-work grade

Examples … The first two are of ME

MONA LISA POSE EXAMPLES ¾ Length

Hands crossed in a relaxed fashion

Slightly turned to one side

Eyes make eye contact with the viewer

MONA LISA POSE EXAMPLES Central Triangle

MONA LISA POSE EXAMPLES ¾ Length

Hands crossed in a relaxed fashion Though NOT sitting

on anything (not required!)

Slightly turned to one side

Eye Contact with the viewer

MONA LISA POSE EXAMPLES Central Triangle

MONA LISA POSE EXAMPLES

• ¾ length pose

• Body slightly turned,

• Eye contact with the viewer

• Hands resting, relaxed

• Central triangle