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 periodand 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 throne2: Crown3: grand gesture Towards woman in blue4: fiance’s gratefulGesture of acceptance5:soldiers- remindViewer that it is war

The Continence of Scipio, Nicolas Poussin, 1640

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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 child2. 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

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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 on2. Lead your eye to the main components of the story3. 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 sheWill use the components to create: HarmonyRhythmSerenityDynamismJagged Discord

Reading this painting: Christ is firmly established as the central Figure because the composition is basedUpon 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- repetitionOr 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 finish2. Interplay of light and shade3. Use of perspective

*Elements vital to a rhythmic composition*

Use your notes, and vocabulary that we have learned up to this pointAnd 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 contrastThe strong diagonals of the composition

The solitary figure heading up the street in the Opposite direction creates a sense of alienationOr 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 oppositionFlow 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