Giotto Flashcards
How did Giotto revolutionise Western European painting?
More realistic Used light and shade to create an illusion of depth Got rid of the gold leaf background Created natural compositions Deeply emotional paintings
What influenced Giotto
The Franciscans and their philosophy of Pantheism which humanism was complimentary to.
Their emotional sermons
What were the benefits of fresco
Large, quick, less expensive, useful didactic function
What is a giornato
The amount of painting an artist can get done in a day
Who was Giotto a pupil of
Cimabue
What was Giotto first major work
A fresco cycle (28 paintings) in the church of San Francesco in Assisi in Italy.
What was Giottos second major work
Decoration of the arena chapel in Padua.
Rich business man, Enrico Scroregni commissioned Giotto to decorate his family chapel to show their wealth and status
What was Giottos third major work
Cathedral of Santa Croce in Florence
Decorated two side chapels belonging to the Bardi and Peruzzi
Bardi: life of St Francis
Peruzzi: life of St John the Evangelist
What did Giotto design later in life?
The Campanile (bell tower) in Florence
When was Byzantine Art popular in Itsly?
13th and 14th centuries
Give five characteristics of Byzantine Art
Mosaics Icons Gold leaf backgrounds Stylised folds in drapery Formal, stiff poses
What was the major art style in Europe at Giottos time
International Gothic
Give 3 characteristics of the art style at Giottos time
Gold leaf backgrounds
Decoration and tiny detail
More realistic than Byzantine
When was the lamentation painted
1303-1306
Describe the composition of the Lamentation
All characters looking at Mary and Jesus, rocky outcrop leads there
Natural poses, even people with backs to us: realistic
Unlike the formal Byzantine and international gothic styles
Describe the emotional style of the Lamentation
Inspired by how the monks and priests told people to imagine stories from bible in their heads
Giotto wanted people to feel the emotion and be moved by it
Emotionally immediate
Describe the dramatic poses of the Lamentation
St John: theoretical poses
Expressive of the emotion
Different to formal, stiff poses before
Describe the facial expressions of the Lamentation
Angels in the sky
Women crying
Two faces very close together
Emotional focal point
Describe the light and shade of the Lamentation
Solid bulky figures
Observed real drapery
Eg. Women in foreground
Describe the background of the Lamentation
Natural compared to gold leaf
Real environment for figures
Craggy mountain cliff and dead tree
Where are both of Giottos paintings located
Arena Chapel Padua
When was The Kiss Of Judas painted
1303-1306
Describe the subject matter of the Kiss Of Judas
Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss in centre, signal for Roman soldiers to arrest him
Roman soldiers crowd around with spears in air
Lots of action, St Peter cuts off ear of Malchus, servant of the high priest who ordered Jesus’ arrest
Describe the composition of the Kiss Of Judas
Exact centre, Jesus and Judas
Loosely symmetrical, very centralised
Clubs and spears point to them
