Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Mt. Ste. Victoire, Cezanne

Maternal Caress, Cassat

Moulin de la Galette, Renoir

Blvd. des Capucines, Monet

Luncheon on the Grass, Manet

The Oxbow, Cole




Wilderness represented as one of the most important ideas in earlier US art. Natural wonder, but it separates two parts, on the right hand a forest, and on the other side can be seen the wilderness where irregular dark skies, broken trees are shown as a powerful force.
Fighting Temeraire, Turner

3rd of May, Goya





Antiwar statement and Anti-French. Lines figures representing French soldiers. Spaniard are about to be shot, and others are already on the ground.
Raft of Medusa, Gericault

Large Odelisque, Ingres

-Odalisque: A female slave or a concubin in a sultan's harem (sexual fantasy-repressed.
- Body turned away from the master's gaze makes her erotic and aloof.
-The cool blues of the couch and the curtain at the right heighten the effect of the woman's warm skin, while the angularity of the crumpled sheets accentuates the languid, sensual contuors of her form.
-Fluid line/elegant postures= Neoclassical
-Romantic themes= odalisque in a highly personal fashion, her body is not anatomically correct, but it is aesthetical pleasing.
-Fascination with the exotic-exploration- French discover exotic near East during Napoleon's campaigns.
-Commissioned by the Queen of Naples.
-Concerned with the line, not remaining true to form.
The Calling of Matthew, Caravaggio




Unlikely scene, the subject is sit one the table counting money, presumably in Rome. Christ, appears with another man in a flash of light. Christ not in a typical guise. Well-dressed man showing surprise.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Napoleon in the plague House, Gros



Composition is broken in different parts, not showing classical tradition, but Muslim. Exotic shadows and corpses on the ground. In the center, Napoleon figure is painted as fearless, and compassionate by curing a man by touching him.
The Death of Marat, David


Known as a friend of the people. One of the leaders to get the king killed. Showing him on the painting as a hero for dying because of the revolution. Quiet moment is reflected afterwards. Artwork showed him taking a bath. He used sort of youthful message showing conspiracy against the government. Mystical light coming from above in order to show some Christian inspire flavor.
Oath of Horatii, David


The father make his sons take their lives in oath for the country. Plain architecture, figures realistic with some way of idealization. Linear perspective can be seen on floor. What makes it different is that the light comes to an end in the shadows so there's no more way
to go. Dedication and devotion is highly structured in three spaces, soldiers, father, women and family.
Marie Antoinette, Vigee Lebrun






Well dressed, elegant, neoclassical figure.
Nightmare, Fuseli

Marriage contract, Hogart

Diana getting out of her bath, Boucher




Boucher was the official painter of the king. He worked with the Goddesses painting. She was getting a pedicure. Bluegreen backgrounds that bring out female figures tones. Art work is about relaxing, freshness of youth. He is more a classical painter.
Departure from Cythera, Watteau



People are French aristocratic. The work is defined by curves. Curve of the hill expresses melancholy. Baroque art is tended to be apparent making it seem a dream world. Pleasure, and devotion to love.
Woman Holding a Balance, Vermeer




Light comes to an angle where illuminates a young woman. She has two different sides next to her, one showing different materials, and in the back, the last judgment scene on a painting. Two hands are lined up. Amazingly, the painter renders light, and he also shows a great understanding of light on her dress,
Harbor at Dordrecht, Albert Cuyp




Linear perspective in the sailing ships. Sense of strength and prosperity.
Night Watch, Rembrandt




Group portrait. Baroque style because of shadow use. Random gathering. Young girl dressed as an angel in the center of the art work.
Self-portrait, Leyster Judith




Very well-dressed figure, small canvas with a musician figure and an instrument. The two figures have a happy expression. She draws some distinction: very defined way of painting of her dress, and lines. She looks like she is smiling at us.
Charles, Van Dyck

Henri IV, Rubens


Las Meninas
, Velasquez





Mirror in the background showing king and queen. Painting is more about art. Paintings all over the room. Figures look like they are posing also. He structures the painting by linear perspective. His brush work is much free than other painters works. The author is making us aware of painting of paint. Besides that, he is using light in a different way. Light is a dissolving form.
Watercarrier, Velasquez




Virtuosity in rendering sculptural volumes and contrasting textures illuminated dramatic natural light. Both men reflecting, grouping of three, such as three people there are three containers. Very dark background.
Water is a center of life.
Landscape with St. John, Poussin

The Magdalen at the Mirror, Georges de La Tour


Judith, Gentilleschi





Oil canvas painting. Judith using her own sword, mostly dark, strong light catches her from the outside. Curtains in the background shown as a Baroque sign.

St. Teresa of Avila in Ecstasy, Bernini





One of the masterpieces of High Roman Baroque. Colored marble, metal, and detail. Illusionistic sky with the descending light of the Holy Ghost.
Louis XIV, Rigaud






Pompous pose. He is in the center of the painting, curtains in the back, and he is wearing his monarchy robe. He is swearing a sword as a commander. Men's fashion has changed, just working men wear pants. The guy on the painting is a wealthy man.

ART HISTORY

1. The Calling of Matthew, Caravaggio


Unlikely scene, the subject is sit on the table counting money, presumably in Rome. Christ appears with another man in a flash of light. Christ not in a typical guise, and well-dressed man showing surprise.