AS Critical and Contextual Studies Charlie Hopgood
Intention Through out this unit I will be investigating and evaluating paintings and sculptures the evidently show twisting. I will be looking at media from a range of time periods and made in many different styles and movements.
To start off this unit I will be looking at the Belvedere torso. The reason being is that there are clear twists within the figure as you can see it is leant forward debating something. The twists can be seen from the hips upwards but due to the erosion that has occurred over the years you are not able to see what facial expressions that this male figure is showing. This elegant posture is also known as a technical device called contrapposto which features twisting; I will go into more depth for this technique.
Belvedere Torso, 2nd century BC
Found buried this is a marble sculpture that is estimated to be carved in the 2nd century BC and is signed by a Greek sculptor called Apollonius the son of Nestor which suggested that he was the grand creator of this masterpiece. The most favoured theory of the context behind this piece of artwork is that a soldier named Ajax was in a leant over position contemplating his suicide. Later then killing himself with his own sword. Inspired by the monumental stone sculpture of Egypt and Mesopotamia where the Greeks began to carve into stone more creating more natural figures over the years. “this is the work of a man who knew how to do it better than nature!� was a quote by a great artist himself called Michelangelo as this was a great inspiration to him as it was for many artists since its discovery in the 15th century.
This figure can be seen sat in a style called contrapposto where there is an elegant pose they the artist has carved into the stone. In this sculpture the man can be seen leant forward as if they are debating and unfortunately due to erosion we cant see his face which would give us a clue to what he is debating.
Through the posture that the figure in the statue has you can also see that they must be thinking. Linking to the story behind this sculpture this could be the pose that he took when
Like other classical sculptures you can see that it has been carved to resemble the ideal human male body. This technique was used as it made the statues more appealing to the eye and allowed them to look greater. Also with the masculinity of the men it allowed the sculpture to portray an atmosphere of overwhelming strength and power.
This is a large sculpture that has been made to be viewed from all angles to truly show the masculinity of the male who is the centre piece.
deciding his fate.
Upon closer inspection you can see that there is some writing on the stand that the figure is sitting on. This could be the signature of the artist which gives little insight into who created this statue; this is due to how long it had been buried and eroding where it lost a lot of detail and subsequently most of the figures body.
Lacoon and his sons battling a serpent, 175-50 BC
Now I will be looking at this sculpture next is because of the snake that can be seen in the mid section of the sculpture. Its thin body entwining around the three figures shows twisting as it holds them in place to kill them. This makes the statue more dramatic and brings forward the atmosphere of chaos and panic.
Excavated in Rome around 1506 there is no evidence of who sculpted this statue due to the time period it was made. However analysts have a theory that its Lacoon and his sons. This sculptor is of a man named Lacoon and his sons battling a serpent and was sculpted in the century 175-50 BC and being made of marble gave it the structural integrity to be an amazing 242cm tall just a bit more than life size. Lacoon was a Trojan priest who told the people of troy not to except the gift from the Greeks knowing that the gift of a wooden horse will contain a small army of soldiers to breach the behind the walls and kill the Greeks whilst they were sleeping.
During the time period artists would use the theme of realism to allow for the sculptures that they are creating to look more natural so that the viewer can identify with them and see them as a person and not a figure of a fantasy. However as seen in this sculpture the artist has used idealised realism and that is where he has used what he thinks the ideal male body should look like. This was a big topic as viewers would often feel unsettled when seeing art that depicted what life, culture and society were really like. Made out of marble this statue was designed to be viewed from all angles due to the positions and directions that the figures are all facing and neither one is looking in the same direction which further portrays the sense of panic and terror. As seen by the image below the statue is carved in the somewhat shape of a triangle. Not only does this please the eye when the viewer is looking at it; making it organised and less confusing and clustered with limbs in the fight for survival. It also allows for this large statue to have some stability where the majority of the weight is at the bottom and spread across a large base making it less likely to topple. Making it one of the most mathematically planned sculptures that are out there today.
Using the method of chiselling the artist has managed to carve intricate details and textures onto the stone to create this distressed figure. This allows the viewer to connect more with the sculpture and relate to the emotions that the figure is portraying. One of the main focuses to this piece is the serpent that is attacking Lacoon and his sons. It can be seen twisting and entwining itself with the bodies of the men and children as it overpowers even the strongest of people. It shows immense power and allows the sculpture to further emphasis the emotion of distress and fear as a large man is being attacked by something so small in comparison to himself. As seen in the image below the red lines represent the twining motion of the snake as it gets a grip of Lacoon trying to kill him.
Donatello's David, 1387-1466
following on from Lacoon and his son’s battling a serpent I will be looking at Donatello's bronze version of David. This example demonstrates twisting through the posture in which the figure is standing in. the twisting pose makes emphasises emotion and the atmosphere that the artist is trying to portray. In this case it is portraying a sense of victory as David stands over Goliaths severed head.
Donatello's David Donatello was first inspired by the art from the ancient classical period and would use that style to develop his own work using twisting and intricate details to capture the viewers attention. He studied the art of ancient sculpture along with other artists such as Alberti, Brunelleschi, Masaccio and Uccello however, Donatello was the artist to create the Italian renaissance style. Sculpted by a well known artist called Donatello from 1387 to 1466 this is a bronze sculpture that instead of being chiselled like stone had to be made from a mould because of the metal. To do this the David figure was made using wax with a material placed over that. To make the final statue molten metal was poured into the cast to create the final figure of David. This statue portrays the moment a man named David defeated a giant called goliath and as told in the biblical story David was trying to free the helpless people from the people that captured them. the phrase ‘David and Goliath’ has now become a popular metaphor to describe the underdog being David defeating the warrior goliath. this statue was designed to be viewed from all angles to show off the intricate details that the artist has put into this sculpture. Here from behind you can see the feather from goliaths helmet twisting up David's inner right thigh which emphasises the size of goliath compared to David. Here I have highlighted the main feature of this statue that allows me to link it to my theme of twisting. The pose that the artist has chosen to sculpt David in is called contrapposto and was often associated with the ancient sculptures that artists such as Donatello was inspired by. The lines that I have created show this by the smooth curves that have been created. You can see that David is stood very elegantly as he grandly stands on the severed head of the giant he has just defeated. The twisting of the body creates a naturalistic effect as the model is stood graciously as it curves with confidence. Donatello has used great techniques to get the best possible effect in the final outcome. This can be seen by the sharp details on the hair, feathers and Goliaths head adds to the realism of this piece. Due to the technique in which this model was made it creates a smooth surface that reflects the light and captures the viewers attention. in David's left hand you can see the stone that was said to be used by him to kill Goliath curled in his hand. The way that David is holding this stone suggests that he felt that he defeated the giant effortlessly and the sword that belonged to goliath also suggests how small David was compared to the giant and that he was only a boy.
Michelangelo's David, 1503
Moving on I will now be looking at Michelangelo's depiction of David. However, unlike other depictions of this biblical figure this one shows David before his fight. Much like the statue by Donatello the twisting in this is shown through the posture called contrapposto. However the intricate details in the models hair also show a flowing and elegant curl through out the luscious locks.
Next I will be looking at Michelangelo's depiction of the biblical David. Sculpted in 1503 the reason I have chosen this work in particular is because it shows twisting in a way much like the first sculpture I looked at by Donatello. It used the technique of contrapposto to give the figure a more naturalistic look and create a different atmosphere that is less intense. Also much like that of Greek classical sculptures this piece has been made from marble instead of bronze which means that much more skills will be needed to create such intricate details that can be seen in this portrayal of David.
Artist biography An artist called Michelangelo sculpted this piece and amongst sculpturing he was also a painter and an architect between the years 1475-1564. he trained in Florence under the artist called Ghirlandaio and in 1492 he studied human autonomy through the technique of dissection which during his time period was completely illegal. This was all terms to glorify God. He moved from Florence because of the removal of the Medici family and the gloomy rules set up under the mad monk Savonarola. However he later moved back to Florence.
context For much of the sixteenth-century Italian art and architecture, especially in Rome the term high renaissance is used, to denote a further elaboration and refinement of the renaissance characteristics by showing harmony and simplicity. The technical mastery of this time period assured handling of multi-figure compositions allowing for a deeper investigation of the relationship with classical antiquity as the rebirth of this ancient sculptural technique became very popular in Florence and inspired many artists to make their own work. This in turn allowed them to develop more monumental forms and the creation of unified and harmonious compositions that rejected the decorative details of 15th century art.
Sculpted in 1504 it is a single marble figured statue that was carved out of a large stone of marble and is a stunning 434cm tall. This sculpture was made in Florence by the artist Michelangelo and was inspired by the art from artists during the Greek classical era. Made in a reductive manner this means that it was carved from one piece of stone using chisels and hammers that allowed the artist to create texture and shapes within the stone and was made to idealise the perfect male body but was also influenced by classical sculpture due to the nudity of the sculpture. In this portrayal of David Michelangelo has decided to sculpt David before the fight where as Donatello made David after the fight where he was victorious.
Here on the lower right leg of the statue you can see a tree stump that the statue has seemingly been built around. This is because marble doesn’t have as much structural integrity as bronze meaning that when a statue of this proportion was made it would need bracing to prevent it from toppling over. The statue has also been created to have a regular silhouette and looks much like a normal person. This allows the viewers to relate to the artwork which will then make more of an atmospherically impact.
You can see the intricate details that the artist has included within this statue. This can be seen in the face and hair where there is a smooth texture for the skin but a rough one for the hair. The technique of chiselling will have also hindered the capability of making such smooth textures which shows how much skill went into making this sculpture. The figure can also be seen standing in a contrapposto style with all his weight on his right leg. This suggests that he is laid back and is confident about the battle that is about to commence. This also shows twisting with the way that the model is leant in one direction but is facing another like he is peering over his shoulder or acting like he is oblivious to something. The statue has also been designed to have larger hands and head than what it would be like if the statue was completely made life like. This is because the statue is so large it would be viewed from the bottom so by having the large head and hands it allows the viewer to still be able to see them and makes the sculpture look in proportion from the floor. The importance of the hands being larger as well is because of the rock and sling shot that David holds. These are an important part to the story of David and goliath as this is the weapon that was used to strike and kill goliath or at least render him unconscious for David to then decapitate him as told in the biblical story.
Another example of twisting is the statue of David by Giovanni Bologna or best known as Giambologna. In this example you can see the twisting and twining of two bodies as David is straddling Goliath with his arm stretched ready to force a fatal blow on the giant. Not only does the twisting emphasis the struggle as the two men battle but it also allows this marble statue to have some structural integrity as it’s 210cm tall and with the particular material being brittle it isn’t as strong as previously used materials such as bronze.
Samson Slaying a Philistine, 1560
Giambologna occupied a vital position in the development of Italian sculpture between Michelangelo and Bernini. Of Flemish origin and training, Jean Boulogne travelled to Rome about 1550 to study the masterpieces of classical and renaissance sculpture. On his homeward journey in 1555 he visited Florence most likely to study the sculptures by Michelangelo and was persuaded to settle there and work for the Medici Dukes. This is how this particular statue of David and goliath was made due to the Medici commissioning him to create it and was the only sculpture sculpted by Giambologna to leave Florence and was later on acquired by a museum in 1953. This sculpture originally formed the apex of an ornamental fountain made for the Medici in Florence about 1560. called Samson Slaying a Philistine it’s a depiction of the episode in the old testament ‘book of judges’. In the book it says “and he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand and took it and slew a thousand men therewith” The statue has been in England for over 300 years and over the many decades that it has been around has been slowly eroding to the point where the signature of the artist that can be found on the strap of Samson’s chest says “I…BELGAE…”.
In this sculpture you can see some contrapposto which is the twisting and movement of the figures body. In this statue the artist has captured the moment that one man is about to lunge forward and strike the other with a blow to the neck. In his right hand you can see the man holding a jaw bone to an animal. This emphasises the amount of power that he has and how he is using what is around him to defeat his opponent. It also shows the truly immense power that one man has over another in a fight for life and death. Made out of marble you can see that this sculpture was inspired by the artwork of David by Michelangelo that was also inspired by the ancient Greek classical arts that had rebirthed in the 15th century in Florence. Simple details such as the texture of the skin and the detail that has gone into the hair are all features that the classical techniques used. However along with contrapposto the subject of nudity which Giambologna has focused on was used to further induce the feel of nature and make the artists sculptures more realistic. The twisting of the two figures emphasises power and shows every muscle on their body. This also tells the viewer how determined they are kill one another. But it also shows the desperate struggle as each one tries to stay alive. However the facial expression on Samson’s face when he is slaying the Philistine shows that he hasn’t put a lot of effort into making his enemy collapse with submission. There is also no remorse on his face that shows he doesn’t feel that what he is doing is wrong.
Antoine Paris, 1724
The reason that I have chosen this image to look at first is because it suits the theme of twisting due to the elegant curves to the arm. This is because the curves of the arm almost twist around the furniture that the model is on making him look more regal and well educated along with a great posture that seems effortless.
rococo • This style originated in the 18th century in Paris and was derived from the word “Rocaille”; a French word for rubble or rock. It refers to the shell work that was found in interior designs in caves. However this art movement displays curvy lines, nature, amorous encounters, light hearted entertainment, youth but often portrayed scenes of love. This elegant style originated after the death of Louis XIV when the French court moved from the Versailles and back to their old Parisian mansions causing a new middle class started to rise although people with royal and noble backgrounds were still patrons of art. This art movement can not only be seen in paintings but was also another popular style for artists to create furniture in and often was fabricated onto chairs for interior designs. These designs featured the elegant intertwining of nature and floral designs showing passionate and precise patterns. • It was also used for the interiors of grand buildings that needed to show substantial wealth and colour. Much like this room it was used to decorate the whole room with furniture, sculptures and magnificent paintings. • This style then developed more into the painting topic when an artist called Jean Antoine Watteau where he is known for his elegantly dressed figures gathered in outdoor spaces exchanging pleasantries and enjoying music. Featuring nature he truly showed the elegancy of life and the curved wealthy figures that had dominion over society.
Hyacinthe Rigaud He was a French painter born in 1659 and later died in 1743. his particular style was that in the baroque. During his life time he was considered the most successful painter during this time period showing his talent through the extremely realistic paintings he did. Often using a combination of colours and tones to create realistic skin and lighting that looked so realistic with perfect reflections and highlights coming off the objects in the image. In 1688 he received his first royal commission for his work as his pieces were very popular amongst the wealthier classes of Paris’ society. His main strengths were with formal portraiture which he excelled in when he painted a picture of louis XIV in his robes showing his power and strength. During the 17th century baroque painting was a very popular style amongst painters. Within this style the artists often used many techniques such as exaggerating the movement within the painting. This was to intensify and make the painting more dramatic to the client or viewer. This style often was also used to make the subject within the photo look heroic and show power and tell the people looking at the painting how important they are.
Twisting The reason that I have chosen this image to look at first is because it suits the theme of twisting due to the elegant curves to the arm. This is because the curves of the arm almost twist around the furniture that the model is on making him look more regal and well educated along with a great posture that seems effortless.
This portrait of a man named Antoine Paris, painted in 1724 its an oil canvas painting painted by a French artist called Hyacinthe Rigaud a baroque painter. In the image the man is sat up straight with a posh and formal posture. This shows that he has a high education and looks to present themselves well. The background is also very dim with the lit up subject in the foreground. This draws the focus of the viewer to the foreground rather than the distracting background. Here in the background you can see shelves of books, this suggests that the subject is being painted in what looks like a library. This also tells us that the subject is well educated and informed of the world.
These two segments of this painting both show foreign objects. These being a pillar on the left and a vase on the upper right. This shows that the man in the photo has done allot of travelling and brought back souvenir’s from their travels which was also known as the Grand Tour. The trend started around 1660 when young men or women would go on a trip around Europe. However was only for the upper class society or those with a wealthy background The subject of the photo is also looking away from the viewer which shows that we are unimportant and that he has better things to look at. Extra fat under the chin also suggests that the man I also able to afford and spoil himself with food which only people with high status’s could afford to do. You can also see that the man is wearing a wig . During the 18th century powdered wigs were important for full dress occasions and also showed off the wearers wealth.
Here you can see the only light illuminating the picture coming from the side of the painting from a window. The subject in the photo also has very pale skin which suggests that he doesn't do any manual labour and works inside rather than in the sun outside all day long like lower class citizens. His rosy cheeks also suggest this as they don’t get that much sun. however this may have just been a fashion trend in that specific time period such as the powdered wigs The man in the image is also wearing a rich material like silk or a velvet fabric that was most likely imported from abroad. This told any one who saw this man that he was very rich and could afford many luxuries. The colours in the background and foreground are very similar in shade and tone. This helps make certain features of the image stand out more like the paleness of the skin and the gold and black velvet colours in the blanket that is covering the subject. In this segment the man in the photo is sat and resting on decorative gold plated pieces of furniture. This shows that he has the money to spend on objects that are there to show other people how wealthy they are. The man is also sat on a large gold and red chair with a design sort of like a throne. This tells us that he could have been an important man and that the chair shows his rank in society. Also other than its functionality of being a chair it could also be seen as a simple of how wealthy this man is.
Romanticism This movement originated when rationalism during the age of enlightenment dissolved due to the conflicts of the French people due to the revolution killing hundreds of innocent people. Artists then struggled to come to terms with how devastated their society and government where as they plunged into chaos and therefore heroic individualism defined romanticism. This art style aimed to allow people to see everything as larger than life and emphasis emotions and feelings to connect with a persons soul more; artists then tended to use bold colours with vigorous brush work to portray scenes of love, heroism and death as a way of reminding people of life and death in a memento mori message. Artists had started to move away from rationalisation allowing them to express more within their art making landscapes larger and more breath taking were all emotions were heightened and raw. They used techniques that almost made nature look more destructive and out of mans control to create the effect of a more dramatic atmosphere.
The raft of the medusa This was painted by an artist named Gericault and was painted from 1818-19. it took a year because it was such a large life size painting that was the size of a room. To paint such a large piece being 492 x 716cm within a year the artist had to shave all his hair so that he would force himself to stay in his studio and paint as much as he could. Was relating to a ship called the medusa which sank 3 years before this painting was created. The painting trying to reclaim land however the ship ran aground in the open ocean so the captain and important people took the life boats forcing the rest of the soldiers and the settlers to build a raft out of the ships timber. Originally the plan was to tow the raft to using the life boats but when the captain realised it was slowing the life boats the line was cut and they were forced to survive for themselves. This caused them to turn on one another and become cannibals as they all fight to survive. A message within the painting is that you shouldn’t trust the king as the captain of this ship was appointed by the king but instead abandoned the ship and crew. This shows the corruption of the king within this romanticism piece and shows anarchy. It showed at the time that everyone is apart of the ship of medusa as long as the king is in power.
Here in the far distance there is a faint outline of a ship that would eventually save these people and is the reason for their frantic waving. However what this part of the photo is trying to portray ;is the false hope within life much like the people in the photo who can see a ship but wont be rescued for hours to come
Here you can see a scruffy man resting on a dead body. By his posture and general facial expressions you can tell that he has lost all hope of rescue. This can be related to the context of this image in that this man has realised that even if they do get saved they will have to return to every day life where the monarchy is in control even though the reason for him being in that situation in the first place is because of the people who are being controlled by the monarchy. This may also tell us that on the outside wor5ld the same sort of thing is happening where the people in control are leaving anarchy to spread and spiral out of control and don’t treat the common people as equal to themselves or with kindness.
Here you can see a pile of desperate people trying to wave down a distant ship to rescue them. Within this segment of the photo it shows anarchy and chaos as people selfishly try to help themselves instead of one another. This is shown by the people piling on bodies whether their dead or alive just so they can be seen by a passing ship. This can be seen as a message to people to help one another for a greater chance of success instead of being selfish and trying on your own which would lead to no where other than pain and failure.
In the painting he has used a French officers uniform half on the raft. This is to show that the crown and the captain is to blame and that they are the cause for all these people turning against one another. This suggests that the crown is the cause of anarchy within society and they do nothing to correct it and leave it to escalate and effect all the lower class people leaving the higher class perfectly safe and un effected.
Here you can see an axe in the centre of the selection that I have zoomed in on. However where it would have been used to cut the wood from the ship to build a raft it function has been altered as there are signs of blood on the blade. This suggests that it is now a murder weapon and was used to kill fellow comrades whether it was for no reason or for cannibalistic measures. Either way it further shows how in desperate needs you should help one another instead of turn against one another as when one person becomes selfish and in need and doesn’t know what to do they instantly become a danger to the rest. Much like the captain of the ship who became so desperate to survive that he cut the raft loose so he could get back to civilisation quicker
The figures layer in a twisting motions show the desperate need for rescue. This also emphasis how in need they are and exaggerates the atmosphere making it more gloomy and dark. The twisting within the painting make the pyramid of people look tangled and shows how crowded the make shift raft was.
Liberty leading the people This is a painting painted by a French artist called Eugène Delacroix portraying the July revelation of 1830 in France. Delacroix was one of the leading romanticism artists of his era. Trained by a neo classical artist called Pierre GuÊrin from 1816 to 1823 he gained allot of skills that perfected his work in way that allowed him to produce stunning pieces of work that were very dramatic and realistic. After the revelation of 1830 he received allot of commissions from wealthy people such as Louis-Philippe and Napoleon III who both believed his work to be great master pieces. During the 1830 revelation there was two main factors that caused the people to start an uprising. The first being that louis and Charles ruled in France due to hereditary right with the crown being passed drown through the family after the monarch died. The second being that louis XVIII knew that there was still signs of people wanting a fair democracy letting them vote for who they wanted to rule. He was forced to create and sign the French constitution, also known as the La Charte. This made new laws highlighting equality, protection of private property and other agreements and laws that benefitted the French people after the revelation. The revelation first started in July by all the shop owners closing their own shops in protest. As night approached people started to fight in the streets. Parisians were the aggressors in this fight throwing any hard objects they could find such as paving slabs and roof tiles from their upper windows at people below. 21 people were killed that night and after all the street lights were broken the riot came to an end. However the fighting began again the next morning. The people started to sign a petition for the king to withdraw the ordinances, Charles X decided he would negotiate if the people would lower their weapons knowing that he wouldn’t follow their terms and would send in troops when the people were unarmed. However by the third night the people became more organised and heavily armed blocking off troops with barricades made out of materials from around them which allowed them to eventually overthrow the government and take control. This painting was the last of the Age of Enlightenment when artists saw that the end of the revelation was the birth of the romanticism style where they would portray love, and over dramatic scenes of life and death through their art.
this painting suits my theme of twisting much like the raft of medusa with the way the bodies are tangled amongst one another. But also because of the lady figure who is twisting round to lead the people into battle as they go to fight for their freedom. The way the bodies are stacked also relates to the theme I have chosen which makes the atmosphere more sinister letting the viewer know how much of a troublesome time.
Here you can see a man in a uniform lying dead on the ground. This suggests that he is a soldier of the monarchy. It also sends us a message that when the people are united and really want something you should listen to them as there is nothing stopping them as together they are unbeatable and their determination alone puts them aside from the soldiers. The main focus of the image is a woman holding a flag and a musket in each hand. The flag is the tri coloured flag of the revelation which later led to be the permanent flag of France showing their freedom and democracy. The woman can be depicted as a goddess like figure leading the people over dead bodies to their victory.
In the image you can see that all the people are heavily armed to the teeth with weapons ranging from guns to swords. Whether they were looted off the soldiers or random weapons that they had found lying around. This portrays the anger within the people as them being heavily armed shows that this is a serious matter and they wont let anything get in the way of them making one another's lives better. It also shows that when people unite with one another anything is possible and the desired outcome is more possible working together than trying and failing on your own.
The woman is also standing bare foot on top of dead bodies that the people have killed during their uprising for equality and a fair democracy. This acts as her pedestal for victory showing that they have already conquered most of their enemy and that nothing else can get in their way.
Here you can see a man, presumable a soldier dead and stripped of everything he owns. This gets the message across that this is how the people felt with the way that the crown and who inherited the throne worked. They felt stripped of all their rights and felt un equal to one another as the wealthy people lived a luxurious life as the commoners had to work and starve just to survive. This is the main thing that the French people were trying to achieve during the revelation by overthrowing the government. By doing so the king was made to sign paper work that introduced new laws and terms in return for him being reinstated and being allowed to carry on running the country but fairly and by giving all the people the best chance to thrive and live the best life they possible could.
Ugolino and sons,1867-67, Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux
The reason that I have chosen to look at this sculpture amongst his other works in particular is because it links to my theme of twisting. This can be seen by the bodies carved into one another as they lead to an apex being the main figure of the statue that is showing the most emotion.
Ugolino and his sons, Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux, 1865-67 He was the leading French sculpture of his time period. Born in 1827 in Courbevoie his works mainly focused on the topic of realism where he would create stunning sculptures that would use emotion to connect to the viewer and create a better impact when viewing. For some time he was the student of a French sculpture called Francois Rude and by winning the 1854 Prix de Rome he was then enabled to live in Rome where he was then influenced by classical renaissance sculptures like Michelangelo and Donatello.
Called Ugolino and his sons it is a marble statue that was sculpted in 1865-67. it’s a large scale figure with a height of 195.6cm being close to life size. The structural stability is also seen to come from the conjoining limbs of the multiple people. Being marble it means that this statue is very brittle and can easily break. However where the artist has joined the models together it provides the statue with the structural support that is needed.
The story behind the sculpture comes from the Italian 13th century writer Dante and his work titled the Devine Comedy. This statue depicts the imprisonment of a man named Ugolino and his sons in 1288 and his subsequent death by starvation and thirst. It is said that he was locked in a room that had no windows or doors where he was left with his sons to go mad and starve to death as the room was built around him.
Carpeaux depicts the moment when Ugolino, condemned to die of starvation, yields to the temptation to devour his children and grandchildren. These children can then be seen crying to their elder in a temptation for then to save them. this creates a more intense link between the statue and the viewer allowing them to connect to the statue more and feel more of an impact due to the atmosphere that the artist is portraying within the stone. However, at the base of the statue you can see a child that looks to be life less; also with a more elegant and peaceful look compared to the other figures it suggests that this child is dead. This could also be another reason for the emotional look on Ugolino’s face suggesting that because the child is dead that by eating his flesh will only be helping the rest of them out and they wont have as much guilt on their consciousness due to the fact that the child is already dead. As seen in the yellow line this large figure is the biggest out of the four that are seen. This tells the viewer that he is the main focus and it further emphasises his emotions portraying fear and worry as he is debating how he can survive. This sculpture shows twisting through the shape that the sculpture takes as it leads the apex of the statue being Ugolino. To show this I have used different coloured strokes to highlight these twisting motions. This draws the viewers attention the emotions of this romanticism piece as the bodies of his sons and grandchildren entwine amongst one another to lead to a point. Each one of the coloured lines on the image of the statue resembles the twisting motion that each figure is doing. Upon a closer look at this statue you can see that the main figure has chains round his legs. Although he and the children are in a room that has no windows or exit it further portrays the sense of being trapped and caged like a starving dog. It makes the scene look more dramatic and because the artist is not able to physically sculpt the room they are in and he has used a chain to show that they are trapped and imprisoned.
The Kiss, Auguste Rodin, 1886
Linked to the theme of Twisting this statue can be seen with two bodies that are entwined amongst each other as they are about to lean in for a kiss. Each figure in this statue is twisting from the hips upwards as they passionately embrace one another.
The Kiss, Auguste Rodin, 1886 Sculpted by an artist called Auguste Rodin this was made in 1886. he was considered ‘The father of modern sculpture’. He was also admitted into the Ecole des Beaux Arts but after refusing he followed the trade of craftmanship. The statue is a life sized marble depiction of two people about to kiss in this romanticism piece. It tells the story from a poets book called ‘the Divine Comedy’ by Dante Alighieri. Its shows us the moment that Paolo and Francesca shared their first kiss. Francesca had just married Paolo’s brother and whilst the two were reading romances they fell in love with one another. However upon their first kiss the husband of Francesca caught his wife kissing his brother and stabbed them both. The theme of forbidden love and its consequent eternal damnation was a favourite theme among 19th century artists. And this piece in particular was designed and sculpted for Rodin’s Gates of Hell.
Linked to the theme of Twisting this statue can be seen with two bodies that are entwined amongst each other as they are about to lean in for a kiss. Each figure in this statue is twisting from the hips upwards as they passionately embrace one another.
Designed in a 3d realistic manner it creates multiple viewpoints for the viewer to look at this multiple figure statue from. This enhances the atmosphere and further emphasises the emotions that the artist is trying to portray.
Focused on the style of early classical art you can see that the artist got a lot of inspiration from sculptures such as the classical Greek figures. This can be seen by the nudity aspect but also because of the idealised realism; this is where the artist has created what a desired man and woman should look like
In Paolo’s left hand you can see him holding a book. This is the book that they were reading the romantic stories from that led to them sharing their first kiss.
As you can see this statue has a closed composition which emphasises the narrative behind the statue making the emotions of this romanticism piece be portrayed more. This close composition also creates a lack of negative space creating a strong structure.
As you can see from this segment of the statue the stone hasn’t been created to have a smooth finish such as the figures bodies. This is due to the artists inspiration from sculptures such as Michelangelo's ‘The awakening slave’. This was a life size figure that was being made in 1519-20 and was intended as a decorative piece for Pope Julius’ second tomb.
intention Now after looking at a range of historical art paintings I will be creating an art exhibition where I will create an exhibition room with a leaflet and poster to go along with it. Within the exhibition I will look at a range of paintings and having an in depth look at different meanings and stories behind the individual pieces. At the end of this project I aiming to have a selection of artworks to showcase in an exhibition with a completed poster, leaflet and exhibition tickets.
Titles •
entwined
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tangled
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twisted
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warped
Out of the all the options I have come up with for a title for my exhibition project I have chosen the last option of Entwined. The reason behind choosing this title over the others is because when hearing the word it allows for a more graphical understanding of what twisting can be. The word entwined can boost the atmosphere and emphasis emotions making the scene more dramatic. It also links to the paintings I have chosen as figures are entwined amongst each other showing a stronger version of twisting.
Font Ideas
The reason I have chosen to look at this font is beauty and the beats font is because of the curves. In this design the larger letters have a flick to them which allows them to elegantly disperse into a point. Not only does this curling fit the theme of twisting it also looks fancy and professional.
Here is the version that I have created using the same technique in which my research title has been made. To create this I got a curvy font and typed the title in which I wanted. I then cut the inner parts of the text out leaving the background. Under the background I inserted a gradient that was visible in the gaps of the text. By using the transform tool I warped the gradient to allow the blue to be horizontal and let the gold gradually fade into the blue.
Here I have chosen the title brave from a movie to use as an idea for the my own title. I have created a medieval looking title that where I have added two different tones of the same colour to get the 3d like effect that I can see in the example. After testing multiple colours I have settled on the bottom title as the colours within the title stand out and make the words pop. It also allows you to still read the text and both colours used go well together.
Although this is a simple representation of twisting it works really well for the context behind the movie. Being about people combatting a ghost problem the two colours in the image represent the two dimensions. The purple for the ghosts and the white for the living and the way that they are twisting symbolises how their worlds have become entwined and linked together.
Created by what seems to be a image warp that can be done in a tool such as photoshop. This idea can be used in my own poster to show twisting with the way that the image has been distorted. It suggests a hyper realistic world or someone that is out of control and a bit on the wild side. I may experiment with this as it will add variety to my designs and allow me to see what will work best for my exhibition poster.
To start off this editing technique that is inspired by the second inspiration poster I have taken one of the David sculptures into photoshop. I then went into image and selected the puppet warp tool. This allows me to pin certain parts of the image and move these points to new locations allowing for a twisting effect I then added the entwined text and placed it in the centre of the image to allow for more space to be filled. This font was inspired by the beauty and the beast font and features the same sort of gradient effect.
To finish the poster I added the relevant information such as the dates and times and the location in which the exhibition will be held.
Snakes and Lacoon and his sons battling a serpent (175-50 BC) Now I will be moving on and focusing on the lacoon and how a serpent is attacking them both. It is said in Greek mythology that this Trojan priest was punished by the goddess Athena, acting as protector of the Greeks, punishing him for his interference by having him and his two sons attacked by the giant sea serpents Porces and Chariboea. I will now be creating a poster featuring the twisting motion of a snakes body.
The reason I am now looking at snakes is because of the way that they move their bodies and rest. Linking to my theme of twisting I believe the twisting and intertwining form in which a snake coils and twists its body can be a relatable theme to my poster design. I can use this idea to make a blocked form in which intertwines within itself or another form.
To start off this poster I created a snake like form. This was done by making the first snake and then copying the layer but flipping it. This allowed for two snakes to be facing one another. I then used the erase tool to erase certain parts of the body to allow them to be intertwined. They are both different colours to allow me to identify the different pieces and help with further editing.
I then created a clipping mask within each of the snakes. This was done by making a layer via cut of each of the snakes. The assigned image was then made into a clipping mask and positioned to the correct location on the shape and then merged together. This created two filled snakes that were still joined but had Liberty Leading the People and Lacoon and his Sons Battling a Serpent inside them.
I then used a font called Nevis Bold to create the title. I chose to use a black colour as this would stand out amongst the images in the back of the poster. I then used the puppet warp tool to add a pin to each of the letters. When the curser was over these pins and clicked I could then drag the letter to where ever I wanted. I shuffled them to make them less unorganised and wavy. I then selected the blending options and added an outer glow; this allowed the text to be separated from the rest of the page and the opacity was turned down so it wasn’t as intense. I also created a drop shadow to make it look as though the text was raised off the page.
To finish off the poster I then added the relevant information that the viewer would need. This includes the dates and times as well as the location. This allows the viewer to know more about the exhibition and entice them into coming as they now know what date in which the exhibition will take place.
Lacoon relating to the snakes
After looking at snakes and the tribal and block design such as the ones that I have previously explored I have created my own design. By using a twining snake design I have created a clipping mask in which I have filled with two of the paintings I have analysed. On one of the snakes is the sculpture of lacoon and his sons battling a serpent. On the other is liberty leading the people. On top of these images I have used the blending options to create a texture and add a slight inner shadow to make it more 3D. I then used a font called Nevis bold and the puppet warp tool. This allowed me to move each individual letter into a different spot. My main aim for this piece was to create a poster that showed a twisting form but also allowed the viewer to easily read the information without being distracted. I wanted to keep the poster simple to the eye and not confusing with a lot of imagery and text.
Gallery Ticket To start off the ticket I chose the same colour background as the poster to make it more relatable. I then transferred the same title over from the poster onto the thicket stub. This was to allow the ticket to look as identical to the poster as I could so the viewer can easily remember that this is part of the same exhibition.
Next I took a picture of the lacoon sculpture and created a clipping mask and placed it over the first few images. However changing the position so that the two children and the snake were in the view of the text. This allowed more space to insert a second image to the other half of the font.
The second image I then used was the Samson Slaying a Philistine statue where I moved the image to reveal the figure. I chose the part of the statue where Samson is raising his hand holding a jaw bone ready to strike Philistine. This was the part that showed the most movement and the twisting of the body as the figure was about to do a full swing. Next I added a barcode to allow for the real tickets for the exhibition to be accepted. This would allow them to be scanned and register that the ticket is real and allow the visitor to then enter the gallery with very little effort and confusion; making sure that the only people who entered the gallery had a ticket. I also added a texture to the font and made it look more 3D as if it was like braille coming off the page.
To finish off the ticket stub I transferred the main image from the poster onto the blank space of the ticket. This allowed for a clear resemblance to the poster and allow the viewer to link the two but is also graphically pleasing. I changed the texture so that the images within the pattern were more visible as the picture had to be dramatically downsized. I also added the relevant information and dates so that even though the viewer weren’t near one of the posters they could still look and see when they could use the ticket and where they should go.
Gallery Exhibition
After experimenting with multiple design layouts and ideas in which my exhibition building can be I have settled on this design. The way I have laid it out is so that the visitors can easily navigate through out the rooms and it allows them to not get trapped in a dead end. This allows the traffic through out the exhibit to flow nicely as people will have enough time to look at each of the statues and figures.