The Blanton Museum of Art recently acquired a new, ivory sculpture to its permanent collection. A gift from Kurt Dolnier and Alessandra Manning-Dolnier, the petite sculpture, Madonna of the Grapes, is just four and a half inches tall on its own and seven inches when including its pedestal. The sculpture was named for the grapes that are held in the Virgin’s hands. Aside from the medium and subject matter, there is few information on this work. This essay compiles a broad set of information consisting of iconography, date and composition, place of origin, and artists related to this work.
Iconography
Examining the iconography in this sculpture, there are two details to note. The first is the grapes in the Virgin’s hand. The grapes represent
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Her robes sweep over her to accent the child’s struggle to free himself from his mother, and in contrast only her determined maternal grasp prevents him from stepping down and away from her. Yet another similarity is the Madonna’s sad yet knowing expression of the fate of her child. Michelangelo’s sculpture was created in the early 16th century by commission in the late 15th century by a Flemish merchant by the name of Mouscron. So, there is the possibility of the work dating to this time period or later. However, the ivory statues of the 16th century were more similar to those of the 15th century than the Blanton sculpture. Moving on to the 17th century, while there are not any sculptures with the same composition aside from the Bruges Madonna, the style of the ivory sculptures during this century are the most similar to that of the Madonna of the Grapes. The rendering of the drapery is much more natural along with the plumpness of the infant and the expression of the Madonna. For example, the drapery in the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception (Fig. 16), completed by an Anonymous artist in the late 17th century, falls naturally over the Virgin’s head and down her body, and her facial expression reflects the same serenity seen the Madonna of the Grapes. Another example is a Child awakening (Fig. 19), done by an unknown Netherlandish sculptor in the mid-17th …show more content…
Although it is not unprecedented to assume that the work is Italian because it drew from influences of Michelangelo, there are not any comparable Italian sculptures in terms of style from the 17th century. In addition, the Bruges Madonna was given to the Church of Notre-Dame in Bruges and “with the exception of its confiscation in the wars, the Madonna remained [there].” There are no known print reproductions of the Bruges Madonna that could have been circulating, so it is likely that a the artist who created the Blanton sculpture was a Flemish artist or an artist who came to Flanders and saw the Bruges Madonna in person and was influenced by it. While “ivory carving became extremely popular throughout the whole of the seventeenth and succeeding centuries,” it was especially in Flanders and Germany as productions in Italy declined. It is difficult to distinguish Flemish and German carvers, but comparing the two styles, there are two noticeable differences. For instance, German sculptors produced “extremely complicated baroque or rococo ornament,” (Figs. 17 & 18) which varies from the more muted and subdued details of Flemish carvers. German sculptors were influenced by Italian Classicism, while many northern artists, such as those in Flanders, adhered more to realistic detail within more classical and balanced forms (Fig. 16). For this reason, it is
When that room is entered all voices are hushed, and all merriment silenced. The place is as holy as a church. In the centre of the canvas is the Virgin Mother with a young, almost girlish face or surpassing loveliness. In her eyes affection and wonder are blended, and the features and the figure are the most spiritual and beautiful in the world's art.
By most accounts, the year 1500 was in the midst of the height of the Italian Renaissance. In that year, Flemmish artist Jean Hey, known as the “Master of Moulins,” painted “The Annunciation” to adorn a section of an alter piece for his royal French patrons. The painting tells the story of the angel Gabriel’s visit to the Virgin Mary to deliver the news that she will give birth to the son of God. As the story goes, Mary, an unwed woman, was initially terrified about the prospects of pregnancy, but eventually accepts her fate as God’s servant. “The Annunciation” is an oil painting on a modest canvas, three feet tall and half as wide. The setting of the painting is a study, Mary sitting at a desk in the bottom right hand corner reading, and the angel Gabriel behind her holding a golden scepter, perhaps floating and slightly off the canvas’s center to the left. Both figures are making distinct hand gestures, and a single white dove, in a glowing sphere of gold, floats directly above Mary’s head. The rest of the study is artistic but uncluttered: a tiled floor, a bed with red sheets, and Italian-style architecture. “The Annunciation” was painted at a momentous time, at what is now considered the end of the Early Renaissance (the majority of the 15th Century) and the beginning of the High Renaissance (roughly, 1495 – 1520). Because of its appropriate placement in the Renaissance’s timeline and its distinctly High Renaissance characteristics, Jean Hey’s “Annunciation” represents the culmination of the transition from the trial-and-error process of the Early Renaissance, to the technical perfection that embodied the High Renaissance. Specifically, “Annunciation” demonstrates technical advancements in the portrayal of the huma...
The compositions that each piece displays is different and prestige in its own right. Flemish panel painters were largely influential and created extraordinary developments in composition. The artwork tends to be very detailed and filled with symbolic meanings from surrounding objects or even coloring. Jan van Eyck was especially credited for paying exceptional attention to detail that creates such a realistic form, the figures seem lifelike. Much of this realistic appearance is due to the medium that was widely used in the North. The use of oil paints and techniques, such as finer detail with smaller brush strokes and layering of oil paints to create a glaze, were used and developed giving the Northern art distinct characteristics and composition. Italian painters created frescos by applying pigments to wet plaster. The result is a dull, flatter color and they were unable to achieve intricate detail. The com...
With works in every known medium, from every part of the world, throughout all points in history, exploring the vast collection of the Museum of Modern Art was an overwhelming experience. The objects in the Department of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts are an important historical collection, reflecting the development of a number of art forms in Western Europe. The department's holdings covered sculpture in many sizes, woodwork and furniture, ceramics and glass, jewelry, and tapestries. The gallery attracted my appreciation of the realistic qualities of the human body often portrayed in sculpture.
The two paintings I will be comparing and contrasting are the Madonna Enthroned (Oginissanti Madonna) by Giotto di Bondone ca. 1310 and Madonna Enthroned with Angels and Prophets by Cimabue ca. 1280-1290. Both of these artists used the traditional
As I walked into the first gallery, I saw a wood sculpture that stood in the center of the room. This carving depicted “the crucified Christ, flanked by the Virgin Mary and St. John the Evangelist with Angels holding instruments of the Passion”. It was painted oak and very appealing to the eye. It stood approximately 15 feet in the air. The origin of this sculpture is unknown, but it was found in a Belgium church. This kind of sculpture usually stood at the entrance or at the center of the alter in the church facing the congregation. This image of the suffering Christ relates to the Christian ideas of suffering and Christ’s salvation of all mankind.
...tism. The dove which has been tactfully placed above the Christ’s head, symbolizes the Holy Spirit. The other characters are angels who believed to be witnessing the baptism. The nakedness of the Christ on the other hand symbolizes humility. The general landscape in this picture displays an extraordinary naturalism. The Francesca’s work also marked the era of excessive antiquarian style of sculpturing and tactful use of oil in painting (Prescott, 2005).
“The “Portrait of a woman with a man at a casement” dates from around 1440-1444. It is made with tempera on wood by a Florentine artist, Fra Filippo Lippi. The painting is 64,1 x 41,9 cm. A very interesting detail is the message on the cuff of the woman, reading the word “lealtà” which is Italian for loyalty. The painting is part of the Marquand Collection and is to be found at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it was given as a gift by Henry G. Marquand in 1889.”
Rousseau, Theodore. "The Merode Altarpiece." The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin 16.4 (1957): 117-29. JSTOR. Web. 1 Apr. 2010.
Cimabue’s Madonna Enthroned and Andy Warhol's Gold Marilyn share several visual attributes. While observing the works beside each other the viewer can locate multiple similarities, but in order to understand these works we must picture them separately first in order to then link the reasons for these overlaps in depiction. While also the pointing out the differences that show the uniqueness of the artist's hand and the era in which they were created. Both works depict the image of a woman with a gold background, yet with this over simplified assertion, one must add that these women depicted hold large influence and significance for the era they represent. For Gold Marilyn Warhol looked back at Cimabue’s Madonna Enthroned to parallel elements such as the feel of opulence and nobility, a flat but meaningful composition, and the depiction of a vastly represented public persona,
One can immediately see the involvement of age in this sculpture because of her hunched back, bone structure, wrinkles, baggy eyes, saggy breasts, and all the other imperfections, but also shows that she has some kind of background history. She is also missing her arms, which one would be carrying a basket with fruits or vegetables, and the other could be carrying a chicken. Her dress, slipped off of one shoulder, epitomizes women of age during childbearing years had
This artwork remains relevant today with the depiction of a Roman love story and the architecture. The structural work that went into this sculpture is inspiring because I feel that even with modern technology, knowledge can be gained from how this piece was constructed and designed. The story this artwork tells, of Cupid rescuing Psyche, despite insatiable curiosity, can also be inspiring.
The immediate background consists of natural mounds of dirt and a brick wall that enclose the Virgin, Child, and St. John, amplifying the protective effect that Mary’s figure has. The dirt mounds roll inward with a brick wall bordering them on the right, drawing the viewer’s attention towards the three figures. The background is painted in broad terms, with a simple, uniform depiction of tree leaves and smooth rock faces on the horizon. This contrasts with the fine-lined detail and texture of Mary’s hair, facial features, and veil, which further contribute to her elegance and highlight her
The ability to create a picture of The Annunciation in one’s mind is a key factor in understanding the analysis of the work. Francisco de Zurbaran approaches the painting with a naturalistic style. The painting features a room in which a woman – like angel is seen at the left kneeling on the ground before the Virgin Mary. The figure of Mary is placed between a chair and a small wooden table draped with a green cloth. Mary disregards an open Bible on the table, as she appears solemn while staring at the floor. Floating above the two main figures in the upper left side of the painting are cherubs resting on a bed of clouds. They happily gaze down at Mary with eyes from Heaven.
Madonna is a controversial legend whose attitudes and opinions on sexuality have forced the public to take notice and change the image of females in society. Madonna believed women’s sexuality was a natural aspect of life; therefore, she dared to challenge the rules and definitions of femininity and sought to expand the meaning of it. In a male dominated world, she wanted to focus on the importance of women and let them have a voice of their own. Madonna shattered all the myths on traditional beauty standards and made her statement on sexuality and feminism, which changed how society viewed the standards of beauty. She impacted female power by encouraging sex- positivity into her music and her style. It is mainly because of Madonna that ordinary women, and women in modern entertainment have more choices and freedom which continues to influence further generations.