Gentile da Fabriano’s Adoration of the Magi Flashcards
Q: When and where was Gentile da Fabriano born?
A: He was born c.1370 or 1380 in Fabriano (Marche region).
Q: Where did Gentile da Fabriano die, and when?
A: He died in Rome in 1427.
Q: How did Gentile da Fabriano’s travels influence Adoration of the Magi?
A: The painting synthesizes the lessons he learned from working in Venice, Siena, Orvieto, and Florence, combining Northern Gothic elegance with Florentine innovations.
Q: What biblical event is depicted in Adoration of the Magi?
A: The Adoration of the Magi, where the three kings offer gifts to the Christ child and acknowledge him as King of Kings.
Q: What do the predella panels depict?
Left: The Nativity as a night scene.
Middle: The Flight into Egypt.
Right: Christ’s Presentation in the Temple.
Q: What style does the painting exemplify?
A: The International Gothic Style, characterized by decorative opulence and intricate detail.
Q: How is the narrative direction structured?
A: It moves left to right, with clearly identifiable scenes of the Magi based on their ornate and exotic costumes.
Q: What techniques emphasize opulence in the painting?
Gold leaf on halos of the three kings and horse bridles.
Intricate brocade and richly textured fabrics like silk, velvet, and fur.
Deep colors like aquamarine, vermillion, and orange.
lavish aquamarine mantle of the Virgin immediately singles her out as one of the most important figures in the altarpiece
(The narrative in the predella panels is less ornately depicted. Instead the artist uses this opportunity to show off his engagement with cutting edge styles)
Q: How does the painting incorporate exoticism?
A: Through rare animals (leopard, apes, lion), and the Eastern appearance of the central Magi, who has darker skin.
Skin tone and colour varies among the figures (eg. Joseph and the Virgin / attendant ladies / the Eastern-looking Magi)
how did the painting display courtly excellence
These, as well as the magnificent horses and a hound, add a courtly elegance to the scene that is typical of earlier Gothic work
– e.g. the dog in the right foreground looks up in fear towards a horse that is about to step on him
what does gentiles depiction of complex multiple stories and cramped figures convey
gentile used the journey of the Magi as an opportunity to display his visual imagination and technical skill.
Keen observation of detail seen in the natural poses of animals and figures, realistic details of nature in flowers and grasses.
how is the foreground cramped
Foreground figures are almost stacked on top of one another, in order to fill a limited space with a maximum number of figures.
Q: How are figures grouped to enhance storytelling?
A: Gestures and glances lead the viewer through the story, and the figures are densely packed, especially in the foreground, to maximize narrative detail.
Q: How does Gentile depict the Christ child?
A: The Christ child appears playful, blessing a Magi who kisses his foot.
Q: How are the Magi differentiated?
A: They represent the three ages of man and the universality of Christ’s kingship, shown in varying ages and appearances.
Q: How does Gentile demonstrate technical skill in the predella?
A: In The Nativity, he creates an experimental night scene with three distinct light sources.
Q: Who commissioned Adoration of the Magi?
A: Palla Strozzi, a wealthy Florentine banker.
Q: Why would Strozzi commission a religious painting?
A: As a banker engaged in usury (seen as sinful), he sought to expiate his sins and secure his place in heaven.
Q: Why was the subject of the Magi suitable for Strozzi?
A: It justified wealth, as the Magi’s material gifts (gold, frankincense, myrrh) were celebrated in the Bible.
*The patron’s wealth is exhibited through the artist’s lavish use of gold leaf rendered through the opulence of the international gothic style
Q: How does the painting reflect humanist values?
A: Strozzi owned Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, which advocated for civic duty through lavish public adornment.
-beautifying the city
Q: How is Strozzi represented in the painting?
A: He is depicted as a courtier holding a falcon (a nod to the Strozzi name, meaning “falconer”).
Q: What personalized symbols connect the painting to the Strozzi family? and how is this humanist.
A: The crescent moon on a horse’s bridle, part of the Strozzi coat of arms.
huminast as refrences the patron not just biblical scenes
Q: How does Gentile use materials to enhance the narrative?
A: Lavish gold halos and the Virgin’s aquamarine mantle highlight key figures and symbolize divine significance.
Q: What courtly activities appear in the painting?
A: Hunting scenes and exotic animals evoke the patron’s luxurious lifestyle and diplomatic connections.
humanist influence
strozzi owned Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, which promoted civic duty and lavish public adornments by wealthy individuals.
The painting celebrates wealth as a means of civic contribution and divine honor.
-references patron
Relevance:
Reflects the integration of humanist ideals with Christian narratives, aligning with the intellectual trends of the Renaissance.
Q: What did Vasari say about Gentile da Fabriano?
A: Vasari described Gentile as “an excellent painter, who added richness and charm to the art of painting.”
figures position
foreground:figures in lavish clothes adorning christ amd magi, attention focused on main scene as crowd is larger
The main action unfolds in the foreground of the painting where three Magi offer gifts to the newly born Christ child. Though their adventure actually begins in the background, and smaller scenes of the Magi fill the three arches of the altarpiece, forming a continuous narrative. At the far left, they climb a mountain in search of a star. Following this star, the Magi lead their impressive retinue to Jerusalem (top centre) and then to Bethlehem (top right), where the action in the foreground is also taking place.
background:procession and continuouse narrative, intense glances focus on magi
patron relation to cosimo d’medici
- In his sixties, with the Albizzi, he became leader of the opposition against Cosimo de’ Medici. Initially successful, the two secured the imprisonment of Cosimo, forcing him into exile in 1433.
- However, when Cosimo returned in 1434, both the Strozzi and Albizzi families were exiled in turn.
- In 1434, Strozzi moved to Padua, where he started to plan a return to his native city. He was never able to return, though his son did.
where in the grid
religious painting, florence
critical quotes
date
1423
material
egg tempera and gold leaf on panel
proportion
2.03 m x 2.82 m,
when did gentile travel to siena and florence
*In 1420-21 he made his first journey to Siena and Florence
*Settling in Florence in 1422, he painted his Adoration of the Magi the following year – it can be seen as a synthesis of all he had learned in the course of his travels
how does gentile prpare the panel and whats the effect
AND
what techniques are used
*The preparation of the panel to a mirror-like smoothness (using gesso) allowed the artist to create a highly decorative and detailed surface finish.
*Applying the fast-drying egg tempera paint in layers of small, hatched strokes created the depth of colour within the controlled bounds of a predetermined outline – crisply defined edges
*the technique of pastiglia (embossing and then gilding details e.g. spurs on the youngest Magi), making these details three dimensional and giving impression of solid gold
significance of use of international gothic style
-lavish qualities
-The International Gothic style was popular with wealthy, courtly families throughout Europe in the late 1300s and early 1400s
-The format of the altarpiece is typical of the style as well, the three lunettes at the top and the three predella panels at the bottom are typical features of altarpieces at the time. They are all unified by the gilded wooden frame.
*Emphasis on beauty and grace of elongated figures, courtly elegance, rather than anatomical accuracy. – for example – the youngest King in his intricately-tooled golden tunic, give an impression of material wealth and refined taste.
the figures have been elongated with Mary – although she has been modelled, if she were to stand up she would be unnaturally tall and thin.
how is the emergence of a new renaissance style shown
-lightining in predellas
-Nature is celebrated in a way that few paintings had before.
-People, animals and their movements are carefully observed.
-Subtle modelling of people’s faces.
