14th Century Art in Europe PDF

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Summary

Features 14th century art specifically focused in Italy for the most part. Features photos as well as hi lighted key terms featured on the final exam as well as an into to Art History II. These notes were taken at the end of the semester. The focus is on secular art paid for by patrons....

Description

14th Century Art in Europe: Secular works such as poetry and literative works like Danté. Individualistic representation comes about as well as experimentation with prior art styles. There is an emerging role of wealthy merchants. They don’t have noble titles, but they are able to participate in this cultural explosion because of their wealth. Because of this rise of individualism, named artists come about and are their own agents. Artist guilds and other guilds come about. These guilds are meant to help the community. This century is heavily influenced by the black plague. Palazzo della Signoria. (Town hall in Italy). Italy consisted of city states, so there is no one unifying ruler. Pope controls papal states. These city states are their own autonomous areas that are generally constantly at war. Civic structures come about with the aid of the rich. This is where people met to discuss city affairs. It is a massive rectangular building with a heavily fortified tower overlooking a large area. This is the center of the community rather than churches. Benches were outside of these buildings to allow people to sit and be social etc. Piazza- a courtyard area. Loggia- and open-air area like a gala or room and provides a cover space and allows people to present speeches and stay out of weather and be a part of civic life.

Virgin and Child Enthroned Giotto de Bondone. Very much like Byzantine style iconography and hierarchal scale as well as gold. Mary and Jesus and on a throne surround by disciples symmetrically in the center. Giotto was said to be the student of Cimabue. Same altar piece style as Cimabue. There is a stylistic shift with attention to space and 3D style with foreshortening. Giotto uses light as shading rather than the gold of Cimabue. Giotto layers the angels and has halos overlapping.

Scrovegni (Arena) Chapel, Enrico commissioned this chapel because he was a user meaning he charged interest for loans. It is a private chapel. This is considered a deadly sin. He is attempting to get salvation for making this chapel. There is a sanctuary entrance with an altar. There are three registers of narrative stories. The narratives show Mary’s life at the top, then Christs life in the middle, then the passions of Christ after life. There is an attention to capturing the narrative in snapshots of life. There are scenes of judgement and Enrico on the side of the blessed not damned. Grisaille- a monochrome painting in grey tones to give a sculptural effect. Reconstruction of the Front and Back of the Maesta Altarpiece, highly decorative and narrative in jewel tones. It has wood panels that are bonded together. The front and back both have elaborate painting on them. The center panel has Mary. The base of her thrones has the artists signature. There are angels, saints, patrons, scenes of Mary and Christ’s life. The back has images of the passion. There is a focus on emotion and the crowd is interacting with Christ.

Anunciation , an altar piece. It is a joint collaboration. It was a commission in Siena. It is the annunciation (when Mary finds out that she is going to be the mother of Christ). Flanked by two saints. Gabriel is speaking to Mary who is holding a book and is surprised. The words from Gabriel is saying she is with Christ. Mary looks unready and shows that she is humble and how she thinks she isn’t worthy to have Christ. There is a vase of lilies which is a sign of purity. Motion in the angel like he just landed. There is detailed drapery. Gabriel is holding an olive branch, which is a reference to Noahs ark where the bird brought the branch back. It’s a

symbol from god that he is in the process of saving the world. At the top there is a dove (the holy spirit) surrounded by angels with a ray coming out of it’s mouth. The Effects of Good Government in the City and in the Country This is a panorama in Siena. Lorenzetti was commissioned to do this mural. It’s shown in a public structure. This was featured in a council room. It shows the idea of a good government in both the city (viewers left) and the country side (viewers right). He is to present Siena in a utopic light. Shows that a civic center is a larger part of daily life over the curch. The church is no longer the center of gathering. Kiss of Juda and Annunciation Book of Hours: A book that is centered around prayers that are said specific hours a day. It controls and governs a person’s prayers and activities during the day as well as who they pray to. These are very private, hand held books that also contain a calendar. It incorporates religious life and daily life. They are also very customizable. It is a grisaille gray wash.

Life of the Virgin, this is English. (Opus Anglicanum- English work). We are looking at the life of Mary. Bottom is annunciation, middle is with the three wise men, the top is her in heaven with god and is crowned queen of heaven. Priests would wear this during mass. It is functional and iconographic and portrays a narrative. Because of the light coming into a church, the thread would sparkle.

Vesperbild, German. The German territories are beginning to be split into small states. As a result, there is a lot of artistic variation in this area. This is supposed to inspire devotion. It’s supposed to be extremely emotive graphic work. Attention is focused on distortion of the body. Think about the pushing of public vs private devotion. This is to evoke contemplation and emotion. A devotional image focusing on Christs birth and passion is referred to as an andachtsbilt. Vesperbilds are used during evening prayers i.e. this statue was used then.

St. Luke , Prague. This is a reliquary that holds a relic. It is a framed painting. Ox on his shoulder. This Is the only on out of thirty that a saint looks out to the audience. This is an adornment to a chapel....