Stories and Action

“Istoria” or “ Historical paintings” *Looking at art has more than an aesthetic quality: It has a message or tells a story, and serves a purpose.* In societies where few people are literate, art often tells a religious story. These stories would have been relevant to the time period and easily understood by their viewers. **Order of importance: 1. Historical Biblical stories large in scale because of importance and depict enobled figures, dramatic gestures of bravery and emphasize the serious nature of the work 2. Mythical paintings- Grand Scale to be housed in palaces 3. Genre Paintings- small scale, featuring peasants and bourgeoisie enjoying past times- usually has a moral message

Signifiers: 1: Scipio on the throne 2: Crown 3: grand gesture Towards woman in blue 4: fiance’s grateful Gesture of acceptance 5:soldiers- remind Viewer that it is war The Continence of Scipio, Nicolas Poussin, 1640 *!

Religious: the altarpiece often commissioned for churches Took form in either a diptych- two hinged panels like a book a Triptych- has a central panel and two wings Or a polyptych- more elaborate with many panels- sometimes shaped like cathedrals Key figures in Christian art: 1.Madonna and Christ child 2.Saints who have died for their faith- martyrs -usually have an attribute identifying them, related to their martyrdom Predella- bottom section of an altar piece that depicts a series of religious scenes

Diptych- altarpiece with two hinged panels like a book Diptych with the Angel Gabriel and the Virgin

Triptych- altarpiece with a central panel and two wings The Lamentation Triptych

Madonna and Child Enthroned with Angels and Saints, Fra Angelico, 1437 *!

Historical paintings cont….

Composing a Narrative

Narrative- any account of connected events, presented to a reader or listener in a Sequence of pictures or words.

Composition is used to give the work a natural flow that helps the spectator follow the action, aka- “read the painting” It helps you to understand: 1. What is going on 2. Lead your eye to the main components of the story 3. shapes, linking devices, contrast in scale, and color

Balance: All components of a picture have to Balance each other out so that the Image works as an integrated whole. Depending on the artist’s aim he or she Will use the components to create: Harmony Rhythm Serenity Dynamism Jagged Discord Reading this painting: Christ is firmly established as the central Figure because the composition is based Upon the most stable of shapes: the triangle This creates a feeling of Harmony and Serenity The Ressurection, Piero della Francesca, c1463

Rhythm: a painting or sculpture should have rhythm like a piece of Music. Shapes can be repeated- repetition Or the Shapes can be set in opposition to each other. **Spaces between the shapes are just as important as the shapes themselves** - the provide places for the “moving” elements to go 1.Unified Color scheme and finish 2. Interplay of light and shade 3. Use of perspective *Elements vital to a rhythmic composition*

Use your notes, and vocabulary that we have learned up to this point And analyze this painting to the best of your ability…. Write as much as you can

The people appear to come out of the Canvas toward you- creates a nightmarish scene The curves of their pale, almost dead faces contrast The strong diagonals of the composition The solitary figure heading up the street in the Opposite direction creates a sense of alienation Or solitude The color scheme is gloomy and ominous Brings out feelings of anxiety and tension Composition is in landscape format. The shapes are set in opposition Flow makes the viewer uncomfortable. Color scheme suggests it is a night scene- window lights on, shadows, dark sky Most figures are cropped- suggesting movement or action Generic facial features suggest that they are tronies

Change in scale: contrast between figures in the foreground and the figures in the background