The Story of Art
Lecture 1 - 3 September - Introduction
Modules of studying art
- Symbolism
- Chronological
- Thematical
- Artists
Chronological + cultural shifts (E.g. Madonna and child, evolution of religious
iconography)
Look > see > describe > analyze > interpret.
Visual analysis (formal analysis (b.c. form/ shape).
Visual information = content and form of the image, no interpretations.
- Content
- Form:
o Elements of art
• Line
• Shapes
• Form
• Value
• Texture
• Color
• Space
o Principles of design
• Balance
• Harmony
• Emphasis (making a specific element stand out).
• Movement
• Pattern
• Repetition
• Proportion
• Rhythm
• Variety
• Unity
• Scale
Contextual information
- Function (e.g. devotion, displayed in a church, home, educational, push against
artistic norms).
- Context (history)
,The raft of the medusa – Theodore Gericaut, 1818-1819.
Shipwreck from Afrika, help from France came too
late and so a lot off loss of life, real event. To bring
emphasis to the event.
The Architects Dream – Thomas Cole, 1840, Oil on canvas, Toledo
Museum of art. To describe his dream.
,Lecture 2 – 8 September - Medieval Art
500 BC Greek
100 BC Roman
395 AD Roman empire split in west and east, Imperium Romanum.
476 AD The fall of western roman empire.
400 AD Late antique/ Byzantine
1000 Romanesque
1200 Medieval
1500 Renaissance
1600 Baroque
1790 Neoclassicism
1900 Modern
2021 Contemporary
The middle-aged time period; from fall roman empire until the Renaissance (5th century
until 14th century)
5 different medieval periods/ styles;
- Early medieval art 500 -800
- Carolingian art 780 - 900
- Ottonian art 900 - 1000
- Romanesque art 1000 – 1200
- Gothic art 1200 - 1400
Painting:
Setting medieval art:
- medieval church as visually rich space: sculptures and paintings.
Size and function:
- Sizes denote the function (e.g. small can be in a home). It can be an altarpiece or
on the entire wall.
Materials and techniques:
- Panel paintings (painting on wood, there were no canvas).
- Pigments, egg tempera (pigments combined with bounder, e.g. egg yolk, dries
very fast so not good for mixing, not atmospheric but clear shapes) and precious
metals.
Visual characteristics: style
- Medieval:
o Figures are less representative
o More restricted color pallet
o Plain backgrounds (typically gold)
o Art is anonymous (it was for devotional
purpose, not to create name for themselves).
, - Renaissance:
o Figures are more representative
o More tonal rage (more colors)
o More realistic backgrounds (landscapes e.g.)
Subject Matter: Is about the scenes, a serries showing an event.
Modes of representation: the way they represent is a set
iconography in medieval. Scenes that are represented in more or
less the same way (location, who stands where etc.). In baroque art
there is more variety in how to represent scenes, more creative.
Skill and craftmanship: Very mechanical and takes skill. Not only
paintings bus also wood carvers, inlaying stones into paintings, gold
into painting that shines when candles are lid etc. Medieval
embodies craftmanship.
Simone Martini, Annunciation, Annunciation with St. Margaret
and St. Ansanus, 1333
Iconography: What are the themes and stories?
Art based on the New Testament:
Annunciation – the angel Gabriel sent by God
Visitation – virgin Mary pregnant and visits cousin.
Nativity- birth of Jesus
Adoration of the Magi
Presentation of the Christ at the temple
Flight into Egypt – king hears the child is born
Massacre of the innocents
Christ among the doctors
Baptism if Christ
Marriage at Cana
Raising of Lazarus
Entry into Jerusalem
Expulsion of the Money-changers from the temple
Last supper
Washing of feet
The arrest of Christ (kiss of judas)
Christ before, Caiaphas
Christ mocked
Road to Calvary
Most important: Crucifixion and Lamentation (The mourning of Christ)
Resurrection
Ascension
Lecture 1 - 3 September - Introduction
Modules of studying art
- Symbolism
- Chronological
- Thematical
- Artists
Chronological + cultural shifts (E.g. Madonna and child, evolution of religious
iconography)
Look > see > describe > analyze > interpret.
Visual analysis (formal analysis (b.c. form/ shape).
Visual information = content and form of the image, no interpretations.
- Content
- Form:
o Elements of art
• Line
• Shapes
• Form
• Value
• Texture
• Color
• Space
o Principles of design
• Balance
• Harmony
• Emphasis (making a specific element stand out).
• Movement
• Pattern
• Repetition
• Proportion
• Rhythm
• Variety
• Unity
• Scale
Contextual information
- Function (e.g. devotion, displayed in a church, home, educational, push against
artistic norms).
- Context (history)
,The raft of the medusa – Theodore Gericaut, 1818-1819.
Shipwreck from Afrika, help from France came too
late and so a lot off loss of life, real event. To bring
emphasis to the event.
The Architects Dream – Thomas Cole, 1840, Oil on canvas, Toledo
Museum of art. To describe his dream.
,Lecture 2 – 8 September - Medieval Art
500 BC Greek
100 BC Roman
395 AD Roman empire split in west and east, Imperium Romanum.
476 AD The fall of western roman empire.
400 AD Late antique/ Byzantine
1000 Romanesque
1200 Medieval
1500 Renaissance
1600 Baroque
1790 Neoclassicism
1900 Modern
2021 Contemporary
The middle-aged time period; from fall roman empire until the Renaissance (5th century
until 14th century)
5 different medieval periods/ styles;
- Early medieval art 500 -800
- Carolingian art 780 - 900
- Ottonian art 900 - 1000
- Romanesque art 1000 – 1200
- Gothic art 1200 - 1400
Painting:
Setting medieval art:
- medieval church as visually rich space: sculptures and paintings.
Size and function:
- Sizes denote the function (e.g. small can be in a home). It can be an altarpiece or
on the entire wall.
Materials and techniques:
- Panel paintings (painting on wood, there were no canvas).
- Pigments, egg tempera (pigments combined with bounder, e.g. egg yolk, dries
very fast so not good for mixing, not atmospheric but clear shapes) and precious
metals.
Visual characteristics: style
- Medieval:
o Figures are less representative
o More restricted color pallet
o Plain backgrounds (typically gold)
o Art is anonymous (it was for devotional
purpose, not to create name for themselves).
, - Renaissance:
o Figures are more representative
o More tonal rage (more colors)
o More realistic backgrounds (landscapes e.g.)
Subject Matter: Is about the scenes, a serries showing an event.
Modes of representation: the way they represent is a set
iconography in medieval. Scenes that are represented in more or
less the same way (location, who stands where etc.). In baroque art
there is more variety in how to represent scenes, more creative.
Skill and craftmanship: Very mechanical and takes skill. Not only
paintings bus also wood carvers, inlaying stones into paintings, gold
into painting that shines when candles are lid etc. Medieval
embodies craftmanship.
Simone Martini, Annunciation, Annunciation with St. Margaret
and St. Ansanus, 1333
Iconography: What are the themes and stories?
Art based on the New Testament:
Annunciation – the angel Gabriel sent by God
Visitation – virgin Mary pregnant and visits cousin.
Nativity- birth of Jesus
Adoration of the Magi
Presentation of the Christ at the temple
Flight into Egypt – king hears the child is born
Massacre of the innocents
Christ among the doctors
Baptism if Christ
Marriage at Cana
Raising of Lazarus
Entry into Jerusalem
Expulsion of the Money-changers from the temple
Last supper
Washing of feet
The arrest of Christ (kiss of judas)
Christ before, Caiaphas
Christ mocked
Road to Calvary
Most important: Crucifixion and Lamentation (The mourning of Christ)
Resurrection
Ascension
