Late Gothic & Early Italian Renaissance Flashcards
Cimabue, Virgin and Child Enthroned, c. 1280
Wood panel made out of paulper wood and gesso’d, painted with egg tempera.
The prophets are there to forsee the coming of christ, there’s an allusion to naturalism, with a flat image and no perspective. The face of Mary is stylized for that time, elongated with high cheek bones, a long nose and small mouth. The christ child is a shrunken adult man and there’s limited interactions between mary and her child, because there was no value on naturalism, the angels have no perspective either, they’re stacked and all the same.
Giotto, Virgin and Child Enthroned, c. 1305
This painting was also comissioned for the high altar, the sense of overlapping angels has a gothic characteristic. There was more of a vibrant palatte, making it more natural with a sense of light, shade and 3D. Giotto came up with the technique of using the hot iron to create the marble feel under mary’s chair.
Giotto, Arena Chapel (Scrovegni Chapel), Padua, c. 1305
A palace chapel connected for the family’s personal use. The Scrovegni dad was charged with usery (charging high interest on loans) and his son was worried he wouldn’t be able to make it into heaven so to secure his place he comissioned Giotto to paint the inside of the chapel in elegant frescos, Son-Scrovegni offered the chapel as an offering to the angels to call on his salvation. Using the most expensive blue paint.
Giotto, Meeting at the Golden Gate, detail Arena Chapel frescoes, Padua, c. 1305
Mary’s parents (Anna & Yoakeem) couldn’t have kids so the dude was banished to the forest. Then a sneaky little angel came and said “hey dudes now you have a baby!” and then went and told mr. wilderness-dude that he can come back into the city. This painting is them running into eachothers arms all excitedly and whatnot. It is said that zee child was conceived once they kissed.
Giotto conveys the plot by the other figures and the architecture.
Giotto, Lamentation, detail Arena Chapel frescoes, Padua, c. 1305
A pinncale moment, jesus was laid on top of his mother after the crucifiction, he varied the followers emotional reactions and the angels and he depicted the scene in round so it seemed more believeable (some backs are to us). It was created as an intonaco so you can see where some parts are cracking because it took so long to paint.
Giotto, Bardi Chapel, Santa Croce, Florence, c. 1320
A rich banking family bought their own rights to a chapel, they most expensive one which was closer to the altar.
Death of St. Francis, Giotto, the leader of the franciscan order. This was his followers response, the bishops hand is in his side because he suffered the same wounds as christ so it proves that he’s the real st francis.
Filippo Brunelleschi, Dome of Florence Cathedral, c. 1417-36
Creates a new way to build, with scaffolding and pulleys. Has a double shell design, with an inner and outer shell.
Brunelleschi, Nave, Church of San Lorenzo, Florence, c. 1421-28
Theory and interest in classical architecture. He makes the whole thing rational with modular proportions. Ordered, balanced and symmetrical.
Medici Palace, Florence, 1446
