1 The Northern Renaissance The Northern Renaissance occurred in the European countries (a new era of painting) centred mainly in Germany and Netherlands throughout 15th and 16th centuries. The Italian Renaissance did not inspire or influence others outside Italy, but from the 15th century onwards the idea spread around Europe. It was famous for its oil painting techniques (realistic), altar pieces, portraiture and forms of print making. “The fifteenth and sixteenth centuries were a time of dramatic changes in Northern Europe. Monarchs vied for territorial power, religious reformers questioned the central tenets of the church and scholars sought greater understanding of their world. Against the back drop, artists produced works of extraordinary diverse subject matter and superb technical skill.” (The Northern Renaissance, Durer to Holbein). The Italian Renaissance was based around Humanism but on the other hand The Northern Renaissance looked at religious form, a return to ancient Christian values, and a rise against the authority of the church.
During the Northern Renaissance they believed that if an image looked realistic enough would come true “seeing is believing”. In Northern Europe there were many characteristics about painting; it was extremely detailed. Oil painting was brought in after tempura, many preferred using because as an artist they we able to capture finer detail within their paintings due to the fact it was extremely slow drying so they could always go back and add extra to their paintings if necessary.
2 Van Eyck was a Netherlandish painter who perfected the newly developed technique of oil painting. Although some believe he invented oil painting; this is not true. A man named Vasari said that Van Eyck invented oil painting. In the mirror it is thought that Van Eyck painted himself into it. The dog is in the foreground of the painting, representing loyalty this implies it is faithful. There is an orange on the shelf in the corner because it symbolises wealth. The painting is based on earlier altarpieces (Riemenschneider) Christ and Mary are in a particular pose due to the fact that the patrons are Archers Guild. The skull at the bottom represents Adam. Chiaroscuro is a strong contrast of light and dark; create spatial effects (strong light source from above) Tight grouping of figures, interacting with each other. The rich bright colours such as red unifies the composition; white balances the composition.
3 Van der Weyden In the painting there are 10 figures (not all of them identified). Mary, wife of disciple Cleopas was included in this painting due to the fact she was present at the crucifixion. St. John, sympathises Mary mother of Christ; comforting her. Mary (Mother of Christ) appears to be suffering emotionally from her loss. She is wearing a white headdress that symbolises purity and innocence. As well as a blue ultramarine robe, portraying a clear hierarchy as the colour represents wealth and status as a person (the ultramarine is made from mineral Lapis Lazuli which is imported from Afghanistan). Joseph of Arimathea was a follower of Christ supporting his actions. Joseph was a rich man who had permission to take the corpse of Jesus down from the cross and lay him to rest in a tomb. Nicodemus was a secret follower of Christ and is shown to be holding the feet of the corpse; his role was to wrap the body in linen cloth. Mary Magdalene was present at the Crucifixion. In the painting her sleeves are bright red which insinuates passion for Christ as the symbolic value represents the trickling blood from Jesus’ wounds “they carry the eye through the picture and are a visual reinforcement of Christ’s wounds”. (R Cumming, Art Explained). Another follower of Christ holds a jar of ointment to embalm the body of Christ; tending to the wounds. The body of Christ is shown to have a pale body due to the fact all life has been drained out of him, (loss of blood contributes to this) the white linen he is wrapped in contrasts with his skin. Many say it is tragic but still a man of beauty. The five wounds that were embedded into him are on the hands and feet from the crucifixion and a stab wound in his chest (they do this to make sure he his dead after hanging on the cross for a number of days).
4 Robert Campin was the teacher of Van der Weyden Hans Holbein the younger (c.1497- 1543) was a Northern renaissance artist who focused on portraiture. As well as being “highly versatile and technically accomplished artist who worked in different media, he also designed jewellery and work” (the national gallery) Holbein was seen as one of the most accomplished portraits of the 16th century. The skill of portraiture brought honour, wealth and social status to an artist. This is a self portrait
Holbein was born in Augsburg in southern Germany (1497) “Hans Holbein began training with his father, Hans Holbein the Elder (c.1465-1524) in the town of Augsburg in his native Germany. In 1515, he moved to Basel, where he became the towns leading painter, under taking major commissions as well as designing for printers until 1526. The crises caused by the Reformation led to Holbein’s first visit to England in 1526. He left his family and moved to England permanently in 1532, where he was employed regular at the English Royal court”. (R Cumming, Art explained) He spent two periods of his life in England, throughout the period he “portrayed the nobility of the Tudor court” (The National Gallery) Hans created a lot of work for Henry the VIII such as painting portraits of potential wives for the king. One of Holbein’s most famous paintings was “The Ambassadors” it is now located in the national gallery. The Ambassadors “The picture memorialises two wealthy, educated and powerful young men. On the left is Jean de Dinteville, aged 29, French ambassador to England in 1533. To the right stands his friend, Georges de selve, aged 25, bishop of Lavaur”. (Google, national gallery) Bishop of Lavaur also stepped in as ambassador in a time of need to the Emperor (as well as Venetian Republic and the Holy See). In the picture the two men are surrounded by many objects and artefacts that each have its own individual meaning or history of what it’s been though, where it’s come from or why it was made. The room consists of a lot of books and instruments I believe this is to show how Jean de Dinteville and Georges de selve are wise yet creative; men of many talents. The instruments are also there to portray that they are men of God “instruments used for understanding the heavens and measuring time”. (Google, national gallery)
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Objects (Top Shelf)
Celestial Globe Portable sundial Unknown instruments (but believed to be used for understanding the heavens and measuring time)
Objects (Lower Shelf)
Lute Case of flutes Hymn book Book of arithmetic Terrestrial Globe
Each object symbolises a part of life or link to someone else’s feelings beliefs. The broken string on the lute could symbolise destruction or conflict, perhaps religious discord (little harmony) between one another because many stand up for what they believe in and think that anything else is wrong but on the other hand singing is a recollection of peace (making people happy) which is why hymn book is on the lower shelf “Christian Harmony”.
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The two shelves are meant to be representatives of different lives people lead. The upper shelf consists of instruments, sundial (portable) and celestial globe. I believe these objects imply that God is with us where ever we are and will try guide us in the right direction. On the other hand the lower shelf displays a more “realistic” view of the world “affairs of the world”, even though it still hold musical instruments the meaning is different; we can be joined by harmony of feelings and understand one another rather than having a dispute of how much you should pray and that we are all controlled by one being “God”.
At the bottom of the painting you’ll find a distorted image; it looks out of place, as if it’s a shadow or source of energy that’s always there. The image is a distorted skull, a symbol of mortality (this is why I believe it’s like a showdown that never leaves you. If you tilt your head right of the picture, the image becomes clear, corrected.
7 Thomas Gainsborough Thomas Gainsborough was one of the most famous portrait and landscape painters of 18th century, Britain. Much of Gainsborough inspiration came from Sudbury, Suffolk, England this is where he mainly painted and was also his place of birth. He was a big fan of the painting style Rococo; owning some paint brushes that reached up to 6 Ft. “Rococo painting, which originated in early 18th Century Paris, is characterized by soft colours and curvy lines, and depicts scenes of love, nature, amorous encounters light-hearted entertainment and youth. The word “rococo” derives from rocaille, which is French for rubble or rock. Rocallie refers to the shell-work in garden grottoes and is used as a descriptive word for the serpentine patterns seen in the decorative art of the rococo period.” (Artnew, news) One of Thomas Gainsborough most famous painting was “Mr and Mrs Andrews” it is now located In the National Gallery but originally would have been located in their household. There are three figures in the painting Robert Andrews (22), Frances Carter (16) and a dog who is sat by their side; this represents loyalty between them. Robert and Frances married in November 1748.
Mr and Mrs Andrews 22 year old Robert Andrews and 16 year old Frances Carter, married in November 1748 requested a portrait painting of themselves, shortly after their marriage. They asked a man called Thomas Gainsborough who was still in the early years of his artist career and was not very well known; Gainsborough painted it after returning home from London to Suffolk in 1748 this masterpiece (as many called it) was oil on canvas and reached 70 × 119 cm. Mr and Mrs Andrews were both from wealthy landed families. Robert owned Auberies estate farm which was very successful and brought in a hefty income and Frances came from a high earning family who lived in Ballingdon House near Sudbury. Robert Andrews did not just get his wealth from his family but he earned himself a high paid wage we can tell this because him and his wife are wearing expensive clothing we can tell this due to the fact that both of their outfits look clean, tailored and of high quality material. “Mrs. Andrews dress possess the pastel colours and delicate lace of more erotic French works like Jean Honre Fragonaras The swing”. (Google, Khanacademy) The dress subtly reflects light off of it this creates a more realistic effect of her material, it appears silky, smooth and depicts out the patches of blue in the cloudy sky of the painting. Moreover, the dress emphasises the paleness of Mrs. Andrews skin, we learn from this that she does not have to work for a living, this means she will youthful looking for a long period of time compared to working class who are outside in the harsh weather condition; summer and winter all day. In the painting we can see that a clear hierarchy has been portrayed as Mr. Andrews is stood up showing his authority he does not do this just because of age difference between himself and his wife, but for power reasons as well; making him more superior. The fact that he has a dog close to his side compliments my reason even more as it is obeying its master. Many artists feel it is good to include an animal such as a dog because it usually connotes a hidden meaning such as loyalty or trust. In the painting we can see the dog stood beside Mr. Andrews willing to serve him at his every command showing a strong bond between them both but on the
8 other hand it may be symbolising the newly married couple and how in a marriage you must honour and respect one another. Robert Andrews clearly enjoys shooting due to the fact he has his hunt dog and rifle fun under his arm, I believe this has been included into the portrait to show that his land is under control. Gainsborough was a keen young artist who wanted to be noticed therefore he included a French style technique to his painting “Rococo”. “England did not have a strong painting tradition, and it’s most famous artists were international painters who travelled to London to take advantage of that fact”. (Google, khanacademy) This unusual style was included when Gainsborough painted the bench Mrs. Andrews is sat on, his paint brushes reached up to 6 feet long which he could work at high speeds. It created an opposite effect of classicism but still portrayed grace and beauty to the painting; many lines and curves included.
Gainsborough has left a mysterious absence from the painting this is located where Mrs. Andrews hands are placed; folded in her lap. Nobody knows exactly why it’s been left but the possible reasons are because she was either meant to be holding a dead game bird (a result in her husband’s hunt) or on the other hand it was intended for a baby for her to hold. Personally, I believe the empty space was for a child rather than a game bird because In reality a woman of her age and background would find it dirty as well as making the dress bloody and ruin it.
9 Joseph Wright of Derby: ‘Experiment on a Bird in an Air Pump’, 1768, oil on canvas, large scale.
This painting portrays a group of wealthy people that are watching a scientific demonstration in a domestic setting (a running of a home or family relations). The composition shows us a pyramidal group arranged round the table, in total there are 10 figures. First of all I noticed how two figures seated in front of the table lean in close and display a particular attitude; implying a hierarchy this could also be seen as a posed group. The painter has left a gap in the middle making the audience/viewer of the painting feel more involved as it opens up the painting and the scene is able to be entered by a viewer. Personally, I feel when I look at this painting it makes me think of myself being stood in the background of the domestic setting; watching over everyone. Each character is making significant gesture either towards the main object that’s centred in the middle of the painting or towards another figure… On the left hand side are a young couple who are absorbed with each other’s company, lovingly gazing into each other’s eyes. They both seem oblivious of the situation due to the fact they aren’t reacting to their surroundings, such as the two small girls that are being comforted by the elder man, one is covering her face this could insinuate she is upset (maybe because of the experiment that she has just witnessed) although the younger girl is still watching what’s going on I think this is because she’s confused and more intrigued about the situation rather than upset as she’s still too young to understand. The composition is very dark with just a light in the centre to make it obvious that it’s the main focus of the painting. I really like this painting because it’s one of the first to show “science” it was new to people and I think that it was a great way of introducing it to the world, the family create a friendly feel to it so people don’t have to be worried.
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Romanticism “This style of art is no definitive romantic style, it’s a movement across all arts from late 18th century to middle 19th century. Central theme was the belief in the value of one’s individual experience. A move away from the rationalism of science and the enlightenment and looking into the unknown…the occult…the dead….the unexplainable. “ (google) Caspar David Friederich was born in Greifswald in northern Germany on the 5th September 1774 and dies 7th May 1840. He was a landscape painter of the nineteenth century German Romantic movement, in this time period he was considered the most important painter. He studied in Copenhagen until 1798 before setting in Dresden. Friederich was/is best known for his later allegorical landscapes, they mainly feature figures silhouetted against night skies, morning mists, barren trees and Gothic ruins. His main interests as an artist was the contemplation and thoughts of nature. His symbolic and anti-classical work seeks o make an idea of spiritual experiences of life. Furthermore, as Germany moved towards modernisation during the second half of the nineteenth century Friedrich’s work was not as popular anymore; people lost interest (just like our day and age with music and fashion; constantly changing from different genres and styles). According to “the complete works” website his rediscovery began in 1906 and an art exhibition of 32 his paintings and sculptures were held in berlin. More and more started to rediscover him again. He is now “seen as an icon of German Romantic movement, and painter of international importance. (Google, the complete works)
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The Raft of the Medusa Theodore Gericault was the creator of The Raft of Medusa it took him a year to paint (1818-1819) due to the fact it was on such a large scale (4.9m, 7.2m). This painting was unusual because normally when a painting is on such a large scale it will include a dominant figure/ leader, Gericault wanted to make the painting convincing and life like so included common/ordinary people, this may have made people more likely to engage in the painting due to the fact that they can relate because they aren’t any different to the people on the raft and makes them think of the reality rather than a leader etc. that can come across as surreal to them. This links to our day and age because when we hear information about celebrities it seems more like a story and not an event that’s actually happened. To get such a realistic image of all the people included in the painting he actually went to look at dead bodies that are underwater or have drowned; Gericault wanted first-hand experience. The history behind the painting is tragic so I think Gericault has been respectful as he didn’t want to paint what he thought it looked like.
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Here we can see
Cubism
13 Cubism was an abstract style that was mainly influenced from Native American and African art. It was popular throughout the first part of the 20th century (it began in 1907, were it was also known as proto cubism). Cubist artist did not look at perspective; you could almost say that it was ignored. Objects and figures were shown in many different angles, the objects within the painting appear broken up and put back together again, this is what it makes it appear abstract (unnatural). Shapes and angles (looked as if they were placed randomly with no sense of depth) were the most common thing within the artwork of Cubism they made up different areas of a painting; shapes commonly used were cubes, cones, spheres and cylinders. I feel the advantage of this art work is that you’re able to experiment as much as you like, it can be strange and creative, collage can be used as well, and this technique is used by many.
People disliked Cubism at first this could have been due to the fact that at first they didn’t understand it, “Cubism was meant to be insulting, and came about because of the angular, square look of many Cubist paintings.” (Google, primary facts) There are seen to be two types of Cubism Synthetic and analytical. Analytical Cubism was developed by two artists named Picasso and Barque, their style of painting lasted until 1912, it then became more simplistic this was known as synthetic Cubism, collage and more colour was introduced; material is more involved in the painting.
Proto Cubism, faded colour, simplistic shapes.
Analytical Cubism, little colour, shapes portray a humanistic form, complicated.
Synthetic Cubism, bright colours, simple shapes, texture.
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Pablo Ruiz Picasso Pablo Picasso was one of the best known artists of the 20th century he expanded on the art work cubism and surrealism this was probably his most famous forte his art carried on throughout a 7 decade period and still to this day and age now he is studied; many schools (mostly primary) look at his cubist work as the majority of it is fun, simplistic and interesting. Many looked up to him, although at the beginning his style of work wasn’t overly popular but the more significant his work became. Picasso was born on October 25th 1881 in Malaga, Spain, I believe this is where much of his inspiration came from as its seen to be a bright and eccentric culture as well as the scenery; sunny, warm, colourful. Picasso grew up in Barcelona and took his mother’s maiden name “Picasso” is was in his early stages of his life that he started to develop an artistic talent as he got older Pablo moved from France to Spain a lot; finally settling in Paris in 1904. Picasso went through two periods, Blue and Rose these periods were both before he started his Cubist work. From 1901-1904 his “Blue Period” this was when his art work consisted of the colour blue, dominating most of the paintings; portraying them to be seen as downbeat. “The blue period is a marvellous expression of poetic subtlety and personal melancholy and contributes to the transition of Picasso’s style from classicism to abstract Art” (CP Warncke). Furthermore, 1904-1906 was the “Rose Period” the paintings in this period were more upbeat and set a brighter mood. “To say that Pablo Picasso conquered western art is, by today, the merest usual place. Before the age of 50, the Spanish born artist had become the most well-known name in modern art, with the most distinct style and eye for artistic creation. There had been no other artists, prior to Picasso, who has such an impact on the art world, or had a mass following of fans and critics alike, as he did.” (Google, Pablo Picasso and his paintings) I believe Picasso looked at the world in a different way compared to everyone else, I feel his work is him trying to represent his feelings and release his emotions onto a page where no one can say anything no matter how strange or unique it may appear as it’s “art”. Art comes in many shapes and forms and It just depends on the person and how the express themselves. “Art is a lie that makes us realize the truth” – Pablo Picasso. “Bad artist copy. Good artists steal.” – Pablo Picasso “I do not seek. I find.” – Pablo Picassoq
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