Perspective, Realism, and Space, in Art

1. Perspective, Realism, and Space, in Art You will remember the beauty and attention to realism that the Greeks had achieved in their sculpture. The attention to contraposto (hip shift of body weight), and the exactness of muscle groupings. There was a celebration of the nude male body from and all it’s abilities. God was made in the image of man.

2. Perspective, Realism, and Space, in Art Apollo Aphrodite Nike Zeus Dionysus (infant) and Hermes The Gods and Goddesses battled, loved, and exhibited all types of human characteristics. The Greeks celebrated the idea of the balance between carnal passionate desires and logical reason. For the Greeks and the Romans, their human actions were explained and justified through the behavior of the Gods and Goddesses- This is the classical mythology that we study today. These ideals didn’t sit well with the Jews and Christians who were under the Roman rule.

3. Perspective in Art Rome 50 B.C. to A.D. 70 Ornate Style-picture windows Intricate style- picture windows, architecture And emulated stone and marble. The Greeks, Etruscans, and Romans were a culture who dominated the Mediterranean region from Italy and Greece. They were skilled in painting, pottery, sculpture, and architecture. Images that show knowledge of proportion, and perspective can be seen in these fresco wall paintings. The most ideal realism was something these artists strived to achieve. The Gods were in the image of man.

4. Perspective in Art Rome- Roman Wall painting 50 B.C. to A.D. 70 understanding of architecture and space Architectural style -illusionary extensions of rooms created by painting architecture.

5. By the time the Roman Empire fell, Christianity and Judaism had spread quite far and wide. The Byzantine Empire centered in modern day Turkey and Greece was prevalent by 600 A. D. Images of the Old Testament were told through small iconic painting, or through wall mosaics like this one. Realism was lost-no sense of body proportion, or weight, and no depth in space or perspective is hinted at. Byzantine Art, A. D. 400 Loaves and Fishes 1. If people were familiar with the art of Greece and Rome, why did they not utilize style and skill they had accomplished?

6. By the time the Roman Empire fell, Christianity and Judaism had spread quite far and wide. The Byzantine Empire centered in modern day Turkey and Greece was prevalent by 600 A. D. Images of the Old Testament were told through small iconic painting, or through wall mosaics like this one. Realism was lost-no sense of body proportion, or weight, and no depth in space or perspective is hinted at. Parting of Lot and Abraham Byzantine Art, A. D. 400 2. What characteristics make this image not as real as the Roman Art?

7. These images are from the Proto-Renaissance, 1100-1200 A.D. Here we have religious imagery, but it is quite different. Duccio, Giotto, Cimabue and Berlingheri were from monastic schools that taught methods of iconographic painting. In addition, they were all of a sudden interested in making the religious content as real as possible. 3. Is there any evidence of perspective and horizon line knowledge here? 4. Why the philosophical change in making religious imagery real, what would be the purpose? 5. Do you see any evidence of horizon lines or perspective here? If so where?

8. Giotto and Gaddi have the same subject painted here. 6. Do they seem to have captured the skills of the Greeks and Roman’s here? explain 7. What is wrong with the perspective in these images, the people and the buildings? There are horizon lines but, can you find specific vanishing points? 8. Why do you suppose there was such a gap in spatial understanding from the Greeks and Roman’s to the Renaissance?