Bell Ringer – 9/19

1. 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? Bell Ringer – 9/19 Binder Checks and Bell Ringer grades from the Elements of Art Unit will be passed back first thing tomorrow.

2. A Brief Overview The High Renaissance

3. Approximately 1495-1527 • Rome, Italy • A new concept: the concept of “genius” • Leonardo da Vinci (today) and Michelangelo Buonarroti (Friday) Introduction

4. 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 Introduction

5. 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

6. 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) The Papal States

7. Part 1: Introduction, Da Vinci High Renaissance Art

8. 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

9. 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 Introduction to High Renaissance Art

10. 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 Characteristics

11. Leonardo Da Vinci

12. 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

13. Leonardo da Vinci – Baptism of Christ

14. His paintings incorporated sfumato • Sfumato: quality achieved by blending light and shadow • SMOOTH Transitions • One form disappears into another • Low contrast Leonardo da Vinci

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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.

19. 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”

20. 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.

21. 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

22. Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper”

23. Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” • Human figures, not architecture, are the focus • Architecture creates deep space • Christ dominates the center – focal point

24. 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

25. 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

26. Da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” • Leonardo’s most famous work • Possibly the most famous painting of ALL TIME • WHY?!

27. 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

28. 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

29. 2. THE SUBJECT • Strong central triangle

30. The Mona Lisa had a HUGE impact on photography! The Mona Lisa Pose!!! The Mona Lisa Pose

31. 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

32. 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

33. While she’s slightly turned to one side, she sits open to the viewer holding their eye The Mona Lisa Pose

34. 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

35. 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

36. 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

37. 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  The Mona Lisa Pose

38. Mona Lisa Pose Examples • ¾ Length • Hands crossed in a relaxed fashion • Slightly turned to one side • Eyes make eye contact with the viewer

39. Mona Lisa Pose Examples • Central Triangle

40. 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

41. Mona Lisa Pose Examples • Central Triangle

42. Mona Lisa Pose Examples • ¾ length pose • Body slightly turned, • Eye contact with the viewer • Hands resting, relaxed • Central triangle