That being said, many books have been published and many studies were done to try and determine the true nature of the Sistine Ceiling, and the significance of each scene. However, invariably, they leave the reader feeling confused and disoriented, or worse yet unfulfilled and disappointed at the brevity of information. Therefore, one can reach a conclusion that there is no one definitive translation of this massive fresco. There are, however, some sources that seem to be more enlightened than others, one such is a lengthy work by Esther Dotson, entitled An Augustinian Interpretation of Michelangelo’s Sistine Ceiling. In part one of two, Dotson proposes a compelling argument that the imagery for the Sistine Chapel would have been inspired by the works of Saint Augustine specifically one called The City
Vicent Van Gogh once said, “If you hear a voice within you ‘You cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.” Like most of Gogh’s paintings, Bonaventura Berlinghieri painted what he was passion about. Berlinghieri was “…know for his poignant and detailed scene from the life of the Saint Francis on the predella (based of the altarpiece) of the Church of San Francesco at Pescia” (The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica). The Saint Francis Altarpiece is a five feet panel, created in 1235 as a depiction of Saint Francis and the church. The portrait was painted on wood panel and in gothic like form. Nonetheless, this masterpiece is representation of time, the complexity of the painting and the
Pleasantville (1998), the picture perfect example of a 1950’s America. Life is pleasant where everyone knows their place. The movie takes place in mid-1990s’, as David (Tobey Maguire), lives a depressed and mundane life. His salvation appears in the form of a fairy-godfather, as he and his sibling Jennifer (Reese Witherspoon), are teleported into the world of Pleasantville, a utopia-like lifestyle that brings with it a pleasant existence, where life ran smoothly in “black and white”. This passion-less world is brought forward by director and producer Gary Ross and the ideas of change. Ross conveys the ideas of change, through the use of intertextuality. Intertextuality is when the creator of any media
Cimabue and Giotto were both very well known artists that both painted the Virgin and Child Enthroned. They both have the same meaning and the same subject. The Virgin and Child Enthroned have Madonna and Christ and it had the angels and the prophets. Comparing both of the artworks, they both have a different style. Cimabue and Giotto painting have a great symbolism behind their paintings and what it means for them. Comparing both of the paintings, Cimabue is the first Italian painter that created the Renaissance style of the Virgin and Child Enthroned in Florence, Italy in 1280 which was twelve feet tall and was created with a wood panel and gold. The gold was flattened and glued down onto the painting. The gold that was all over the painting
Michelangelo famously carved many sculptures throughout his lifetime. One of his most famous pieces is the Rome Pietà. The French cardinal Jean de Bilhères Lagraulas commissioned Michelangelo to carve a memorial piece for his own burial in 1497 (Wallace, 243). The Pietà is currently on display in St. Peter’s Basilica on a pedestal as an altarpiece. William Wallace’s article “Michelangelo’s Rome Pietà: Altarpiece or Grave Memorial?” discusses whether the Pietà should be viewed as an elevated altarpiece or at eye level as a memorial through historical context and the intention of how the work was made to be viewed by an audience. The Rome Pietà should be moved to ground level as it was meant to be viewed when Michelangelo carved the piece.
“The Last Judgement” fresco by Michelangelo started its creation in 1536 A.D and completed in 1541 A.D. “The Last Judgement” depicts the second coming of Jesus Christ and contains many biblical figures and references (Dr. Esperanca Camara/ Khan Academy). “The Last Judgement” portrays those that are blessed are saved from damnation; however, those less fortunate live for eternity in hell. The significance of preserving the fresco is that Michelangelo is one of the most prominent painters of the era, and the fresco is important to those who hold their beliefs in the Bible.
Dante Alighieri, who was born in 1265 CE and later died in 1321 CE, was a famous poet in Florence, Italy, most commonly known for his book, Dante’s Inferno. Dante’s Inferno was a product of Dante’s time period because in Florence during this time period, the idea of death and afterlife was very prominent in religion, and Dante’s text, The Inferno, focuses on the idea that the sins committed during one’s life determines the fate of one’s after-life. Because the idea that one’s sins determined their fate and life after death was such a common element in literature and art in Florence during this time period, many other pieces of work emphasized the same ideals, specifically one work in particular, The Scrovegni Chapel.
As expressed in Document A, from Theodore Rabb’s Basic Books, The Last Days of the Renaissance & The March to Modernity, “The clearest evidence of the break with medieval culture comes from the visual arts”. The Middle Ages had an emphasis on religious figures and symbolism. The two images contained Document A included: Madonna Enthroned Between two Angels by Duccio di Buonisegna from the late 13th century as well as Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci, from the early 16th century; upon further observation the conclusion can be made that not only was the art from the Middle Ages focused mostly on religious subject, but it also had two-dimensional lifeless figures and drab colors, as expressed in the painting. This great contrast is clear because the Renaissance painting is the complete opposite, possessing realistic figures which were true to form and three dimensional, vibrant landscapes, with a focus on the individual. As Rabb put it, “the new artistic styles would echo broader movements and interests of the new age.” The Renaissance art gave way to a shift and man no longer wanted to focus solely on religion but also how unique they were as
In a small room in a guest house in France the clicks and clacks of a typewriter echo and the mechanical sound of artistic creation livens the air. This home is known as Saint-Paul-de-Vence and will be a destination for artists and travelers alike. For within this home there is a sturdy typewriter, but more importantly there is a man in exile with the mind and inspiration to use it. He is many things, an expatriate, an African American, and a homosexual. Most importantly though he is an artist and he is creating. This man was James Baldwin, and he authored many influential works in a state of cultural and political exile in Paris. James Baldwin is the quintessential artist in exile and his Parisian years and writings embody the artistic inspiration
Andrea di Bartolo di Simone was born in Castagno, Italy, near Florence, in around 1419. He is commonly referred to using his pseudonym, Andrea del Castagno. Not much is known about his difficult early years of life due to the lack of records. Although, it is said he had an abusive father. It is known that Andrea moved to Corella during a war between Florence and Milan, but moved back afterward. By 1440, he was well-known enough to be commissioned for his art. One of his first works was multiple frescoes, painted on the Palazzo del Podestà, showing traitors being hung by their heels after the Battle of Anghiari. For that artwork, he was given the nickname of “Little Andrea of the Hanged Men”. By 1442, Andrea was in Venice and painting frescoes in the San Tarasio chapel with
Florentine type of depiction spread widely due to the painting. Its popularity among the masses can be understood by the fact that the image has been used by most religious foundation in expression of Jesus and His mother Marry during the child’s tender age (Gelfand, 2000). It’s one of the most treasured paintings in the world. When compared to the Italian standards, the panel is said to be very minor, but its regard is extensively expressed with respect to many other paintings that are said to be, in the ancient times, the most regarded.
Most of the pieces of art done on this topic usually have Mary and Jesus either surrounded by angels or saints who pay respect to them. It is an important figure in Catholicism as it reminds the believers about their faith. Both the two artworks were done during the Renaissance period with Madonna and child with the two angels being done around 1465 while Madonna and child with the saints being done around 1505. In making my comparison, I seek to compare the two pieces of work based on symbolism, the distinguishing features as well as the target audience.
In Jean-Honoré Fragonard’s Allegory of Prudence, the viewer is presented with a young woman who gazes at a mirror. The painting conveys a moment of prolonged reflection and self-evaluation that encourages the viewer to pause, if only briefly, and utilize a moment of reflection in art to turn the viewing inward upon the self. Prudence’s moment of prolonged reflection is created by line, compounded by the color and lighting of the painting, and reinforced by the interactions of shape that emphasizes focus on the mirror. The painting utilizes the interaction of line, color, and scale to display the subject’s moment of reflection, but also to question the fine line between self-reflection and vanity.