Early 18th Century

While listening to this weeks lecture I learned that back in the early 18th century Jean-Antoine Watteau is compared to the modern day Thomas Kinkade, this fact got my attention since I have family that love him. So, even though I saw and read about many artist, then saw their amazing works of art the main name that stuck with me was Jean-Antoine Watteau, that is why I choose to pick one of his works of art. The piece I picked is Pierrot formerly known as Gilles, made in 1719.
There are few art works by Watteau that are well know, while he has painted a lot more then just a few. I found great difficulties finding research on his works of art besides the few works of art found in the text book. There was one main website I found that gave me info on all different aspects of this art work (http://www.artble.com/artists/antoine_watteau/paintings/pierrot_formerly_known_as_gilles).The painting main subject,the boy in the white clothes, Pierrot meaning a few different things like actor, or masquerader is also a type of character in Commedia dell'Arte know to be the fool. This type of character is common in many different types of stories from all different time periods because he is the character that is meant to be left heartbroken. "Traditionally, the Pierrot's love interest, Columbine, leaves him for Harlequin", but even after that has happened he is still the trustworthy guy. Some people believe that Watteau painted this work to represent himself, though it hasn't been proven. This work of art has a hidden story the doesn't really show right away. It wasn't until I looked up information on in till I realized the story, but once I figured it out it became a lot more interesting on the back story of the painting because its link to theatre. This is also not his only painting to revolve around the theatre which is really interesting.

There are other characters portrayed in this work of art the other's being "the doctor on his donkey, the lovers Leander and Isabella, and the captain".

This painting composition is very interesting to look at because you have the main figure that draws the attention of the eye for many reason one being his clothes are bigger and the white makes them pop. When you look at the figures face you see sadness in his eyes, he even seems slightly lonely. This work of art has shadows from a light source that shapes the figures face and his form, while also shining a light on the people below.

At first I didn't know what to think of this painting. By just looking at it I knew it had a good composition and a good ton, but I wasn't sure what it showing. Though after I did research I found this painting to mean so much more and I kept wanting to learn more.

Baroque Art post #7

I chose option one.

Michelangelo's "David", on page 642 of the textbook, shows many different characteristics of the Renaissance time period. The main one being naturalism in the form of the body and also in the expression on his face. these features are the ones that make you relate to the sculpture because it looks like its a guy somewhere off the street. When looking at it would see a young man in a relaxed but strength position. This position looks staged like its super fake, which to me sort of kills the idea of naturalism is a way. Though by it not being a natural position it shows us some signs of idealism to make him seem strong, prefect and flawless. By "Davids" body weight being put on his right foot and his left arm holding what looks to be a small bag over his shoulder, with his head in portrait style it shows a strong sense of harmony and balance in the sculpture. When all the aspects of common characteristics of its time this sculpture is appealing and that's why it draws attention.
While Bernini's "David" has some off the same characteristics of the Renaissance "David" it is Baroque Style. Baroque art has Incorporated parts of Renaissance art into there style but has also rejected aspects too. Bernini "David" shows naturalism in the position of the body, like it is action. It also shows it naturalism in David's facial expression like he has something to do and he will get it done. There really isn't idealism in this sculpture but you could see it in some Baroque artworks. When you first look its hard to see harmony but the longer you look the more visible it becomes, Like even though his body is almost all to one side him having the side bag and the fabric on the opposite side give it a balanced feel. This "David" looks show him to be a strong working man like he is on or is about to get off the battlefield.
Though both Sculptures are of the same man they are completely different from one another. they both are made of marble but the marble used by Bernini emphyisis the dirty, hardworking feel by having it infused with brown and black spots and lines. While to me David was always described to be a child or teenager I find the Baroque statue more realistic to the story because of his being in action even if he looks like he is a lot older. Both statues hit the key point of the muscles and the small pouches that make you realize that it is David. These works of art have some of the same qualitys and some very different quailtys that show they are from two different time periods, but can come together to show the same things in different ways.

16th Century art in Northern Europe

I chose option one.
Albrecht Durer was a German artist in the 15th and 16th Centuries. He lived in Nuremberg, during there golden age. Though out his life he was the first to do many things which changed the look of art to the modern styles. He creates many self portraits in many different settings and styles. Durer was also the first artist to use the printing press to make multiple copies of of his work so many people could own the same art work. This impacted the way things were made and used though out Europe. His works of arts were sent all over at that point he became international noticed and were famous for for his monogram that was his signature. Durer ego was built on by his trip to Italy where his outlook on artist changed to them being "noble intellectuals, participants in humanistic discourse, purveyors of ideas as well as pictures".
Though out his years he had many self portraits. Each painting was different and had him looking different then the one before.
The 1500 self portrait (page 676) is the one that is most famous of himself. It was created in a time that had used the three quarter view, but his is straight on because he made him self resemble Christ. When you look at it, it looks like he's starting right into your soul when really he's staring at himself making him feel himself through his eyes. For this painting he even painted his hair a different color to match Christ's hair. His self Portraits always showed great depth hidden within the painting. Normally you would think something like this would be blasphemous, but during that time the Christian devotion was to imitate Christ in the believer's own life. Durer had Italianate feature in his works of art from his time in Italy. For example, he uses a triangular composition which fit in with the harmony and balance. Then he draws on early Northern Europe art by the surface texture emphasised the most in the fur collar of his clothes.
All in all, his works of art has made art the modern type it is today. He changed the way people think of different types art.

Mannerism/ Late Renaissance post #5

I picked option number one.
Pontormo's Entombment shows Mannerism in many areas and ways. First off the figures are elongated, like the torso of the person holding the body of Christ from behind it is a lot longer than the rest of the body parts. Second it has a definite lack of balance in most of the figures in this painting, especially with the person at the very bottom there is no way possible they would be able to hold up the weight of Christ's body while squatting on their tip toes. Third there are twisted compositions of the body. For example, Christ lower body is nicely sitting on the shoulders of the guy holding him up, but the upper body is twisted so that it looks like he is trying to face forward. There is also a girl at the top that is leaning slightly forward and to the side in a position that looks very uncomfortable and maybe even slightly painful. Last the composition as a whole is very uncomfortable looking, like they couldn't actually stand like that for a very long time.
The second paint I used Parmigianino's Madonna with the long neck is also a very visibly Mannerist painting. First the main figure or Madonna has a very stretched neck with long hands and larger thighs for the actual size of her body. There is also the baby that looks a lot older because of how it is stretched out and elongated. This painting has a lot of out stretched figures and body parts. Second I was going to say that there wasn't a lack of balance, but then I could see what she was sitting on so it made me believe that she might not be sitting on a chair so it gives it a slight lack of balance. Third, there is some twisted figures in this painting the main on is the baby the Madonna is holding his lower body lays out straight across her legs while as it goes to where her hand and skin meet the baby begins to twist. Then at his head it is twisted the other way as if she is not supporting his head. This painting has almost all the characteristics of a Mannerism painting.
Both of these works of art have some similarities and a couple differences. They both defiantly have a strong usage of unrealistic body proportion that makes them seem as if it was deformed or different then you would think it was. Also they both have many twisted figures even with the differences in the amount of people in each one. They do have some differnces. For exmaple, I don't think that the Madonna painting has an unconfortable composition, but I do this the Entombment does. Also while the Entombment painting has a lot of lack in balance, I don't feel the Madonna one does.
All in all, while these two art works from Pontormo and Parmigianino have similarities and differences they both visually look like they are from the Mannerist time period.