Fra Angelico and Robert Campin were both famous artists who lived during the 15 century. They created an array of lasting of art work. Two of their most famous works were The Annunciation by Fra Angelico and Robert Campin Merode Altarpiece. These historically significant pieces of art are as similar as they are different.
They share more than both being painted with oil, for starters, both pieces of art work reflect a modern background. The author’s paint accordingly to where their artwork would reside and who would be viewing their piece of art. Fra Angelico was a former monk himself, who painted the Annunciation for the monks of San Marco, in Florence, Italy. The painting he creates does an excellent job at reflecting this. He creates
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an open porch way with arches, doors, and windows similar to the ones in the monetary in San Marco. The viewer can really see themselves at the monetary. Furthermore the painting embraces simplicity, as it reflects the minimalist lifestyle of the monks. Likewise, artist Robert Campin paints the inside of a very contemporary house that would fit into the modern society at the time. If you look through joseph’s window you can see a detailed cityscape set in the 15 century. In addition, these paintings share the same religious story with the modern twist.
The paintings depict the story of the angel Gabriel visiting the Virgin Mary and announcing the news that she will give birth to Jesus. Yet, even though both Fran Angelico and Robert Campin tell the same story, they do so using different methods. Since, Fra Angelico’s artwork was created for the monetary in San Marco, it reflects that. Monks live simple and devoted faith filled lives. Fra Angelico captured the essences of this in the painting by keeping it very simple, with limited amount of objects and with few symbols. Few symbols was also partly because the audience would have a religious background and the monks could fill in the gaps of the story. Adding to this, the monks used this art work for devotion, and by Angelico keeping it simple the art work was less likely do interfere with the monk’s devotional time. Fra Angelico’s internal struggle as well, not wanting to make the item idolatrized, is also responsible for the simplicity and the Byzantine influence. The few symbols Fra Angelico drew in his paintings included the halos above the figure's head and Mary crossing her arms in a sign of humility. However, even the halos he created were not in perspective and flat as opposed to Masaccio’s 3D looking
halos Roberts Campin used greater amount symbolism when telling the annunciation. He did, however lack the halo that is seen in Fra Angelico’s painting. Some of the symbols he did create were white lilies, baby Jesus, and the bible. On the table the lilies symbolize Mary’s virginity and innocents. Mary reading the bible suggests that she was interrupted during a time of prayer. The baby Jesus flying in on rays’ symbolizes the news that the angel told her. In addition to using symbolism Campin painting was cluttered with objects that were very detailed. Such as Josephs work tools, the cityscape in the horizon and the vase on the table. Lastly, unlike the modesty of Fra Angelico’s paintings Campin added the Donners looking in on the scene. Both paintings were historically significant because this was a changing time between the old Byzantine traditions and the new humanism ideas. Before this art was abstract an unrealistic in perceptive, so that it would not become idolatrized. During this time more art was being pushed to be as natural as possible and with accurate perspectives. In these paintings you can see the power struggle between religious values and the scientific values of art. This makes both piece of art work historically significant because they reflect the changing culture of the era and how art with becoming more natural. Fra Angelico’s painting has perspective issues starting with Mary and Gabriel. The figures look too big for the room, the doors are too small and the floor is slanted. Similar problems occur in the Master of Flemalle painting. Even with the Minute attention to detail the room looks fake as there is no room for the figures to move. More so, the figures in the paintings are too large for the room and both the table and floor they look too steep. Robert Campin’s painting (Master of Flemalle) was historically significant because it changed who was buying the art. Before this art was public and used to decorate big altars. This painting was made portable size, it was created for an upper class family could buy this art for private alters. Fra Angelico’s painting was historically significant because the monastery in Florence Italy was well known. Art can tell you a lot of information on what was happening at the time. Being painted from the same era theses art works shared similarities. However, at the same time, the different styles and background of the two artists helped to make these similar scenes different. In the end, both Angelico and Campin reflect the battle between science (progress) and the church (religion).
Baptist, were both written by the same artist. The actual name of this artist is Dominikos Theotokopoulos, but some people prefer to call him El Greco, which in translation simply means “The Greek.” Both paintings were written by El Greco towards the end of his life, and both are of important religious figures in Christian religion-one of St. Francis and the other of St. John. Both are similar in style and composition, and both were written in practically the same time period, approximately only five years apart. St. Francis was written at about 1595 and St. John at about 1600.
At the top of the artwork the upper part of the cross extends beyond the altarpiece. The edge of John the Evangelist’s red robe on the left of the altarpiece and the edge of Mary Magdalene’s pale blue skirt on the right are cut off when the panel ends, giving the viewer the feeling that, rather than looking in on the scene, the viewer is actually taking part in the scene. This, added to the empathy invoked through the delicate, heart-wrenching rendering of the figures in the artwork, let the observer directly interact with the painting and places him/her within the narrative.
For example, Masaccio used the medium fresco. It dries quickly and requires the artist to work fast with color broadly applied. This medium enables Masaccio to create generalized forms over the precise details of oil and tempura painting. However, Campin used the oil medium. This gave him the ability to create jewel-like illusions of reality. Campin and others of this era were motivated to paint the external world and all the different facets that create it. On the other hand, Masaccio wanted to create a painting that is more realistic and wanted the people to be able to relate to the art. Also, both artists use light and shadow to highlight and emphasize different parts of the paintings. For instance, Campin lit the room with sunlight and put a focus on Mary’s dress. This lighting causes the dress to turn into a shape of a star. This can symbolize the presence of the star of Bethlehem. Many other religious symbols are found in the painting. The eyes are not drawn to a particular object. This is not the case in Masaccio’s painting. He does not particularly shine light on one object. Even though the eyes are drawn to Jesus, we get a sense of balance between all the objects. This portrays faith and it’s mysteries as well as the perfection symbolism that comes with God. Masaccio creates a three dimensional like form even though it is on a two-dimensional surface. The painting shows
One obvious difference in the two paintings is in the choice of colors used by the artists. Paolo Caliari’s use of lighter pastel colors in Annunciation could be due to the angelic presence being illustrated in the painting. The light colors create a heavenly feeling; darker colors would be less likely to have the same effect of inducing the feelings of comfort and serenity that these light colors do. On the other hand, The Raising of Lazarus uses bolder, darker colors; Wtewael utilized these colors because they are more appropriate for the austere scene of people that he is depicting. Light colors would have clashed with the darkness of the distressed facial expressions and body gestures of the people in the painting. Unlike Annunciation, the colors in The Raising of Lazarus stand out only in the foreground of the painting in order to draw the viewer’s focus to the subject instead of the background.
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 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 artists of the Baroque had a remarkably different style than artists of the Renaissance due to their different approach to form, space, and composition. This extreme differentiation in style resulted in a very different treatment of narrative. Perhaps this drastic stylistic difference between the Renaissance and Baroque in their treatment of form, space, and composition and how these characteristics effect the narrative of a painting cannot be seen more than in comparing Perugino’s Christ Delivering the Keys of the Kingdom to St. Peter from the Early Renaissance to Caravaggio’s Conversion of St. Paul from the Baroque.Perugino was one of the greatest masters of the Early Renaissance whose style ischaracterized by the Renaissance ideals of purity, simplicity, and exceptional symmetry of composition. His approach to form in Christ Delivering the Keys of the Kingdom to St.Peter was very linear. He outlined all the figures with a black line giving them a sense of stability, permanence, and power in their environment, but restricting the figures’ sense of movement. In fact, the figures seem to not move at all, but rather are merely locked at a specific moment in time by their rigid outline. Perugino’s approach to the figures’themselves is extremely humanistic and classical. He shines light on the figures in a clear, even way, keeping with the rational and uncluttered meaning of the work. His figures are all locked in a contrapposto pose engaging in intellectual conversation with their neighbor, giving a strong sense of classical rationality. The figures are repeated over and over such as this to convey a rational response and to show the viewer clarity. Perugino’s approach to space was also very rational and simple. He organizes space along three simple planes: foreground, middle ground, and background. Christ and Saint Peter occupy the center foreground and solemn choruses of saints and citizens occupy the rest of the foreground. The middle distance is filled with miscellaneous figures, which complement the front group, emphasizing its density and order, by their scattered arrangement. Buildings from the Renaissance and triumphal arches from Roman antiquity occupy the background, reinforcing the overall classical message to the
The Renaissance in Western Europe brought a “rebirth” to the arts. No longer was the church the only accredited patron for the arts. Instead, a wealthy middle class arose as patrons and were able to purchase artist’s works. Although many pieces still had religious themes, the styles, freedom of creativity, and less reserved pieces were created. The Renaissance was not only confined to Italy, although it is often mistaken as the birthplace of the movement. All over Western Europe artwork flourished. Artists from the north came to Italy to study the classical arts and the renowned Italian Renaissance artists. Many of the same themes and subject matters were depicted throughout Western Europe. One such subject matter, the Annunciation, was portrayed by Jan van Eyck, a Flemish panel painter, as well as, Fra Angelico, an Italian fresco painter. In short, the Annunciation occurred when God sends the angel, Gabriel to deliver the message to Mary that she will give birth to his only son. Although both artists had the same understanding of the biblical account, their styles varied to agree with the concerns and interests of the people of the time as well as where they lived. They were able to establish their individuality through their artwork, even with the same subject matter. The Annunciation by Jan van Eyck is a perfect reflection of Northern Renaissance panel painting while Annunciation by Fra Angelico is the essence of Italian Renaissance fresco painting.
The main theme can simply be seen easily is religion. At first glance you can see why the title is so fitting. The Angel is seen pointing up while hold a tombstone, as if leading Jesus up. Jesus is shown above him pointing in the same direction almost as if talking about heaven. You can tell who Jesus is not only by his placement but by the cloth, light halo, and possible makes on his head from the thorn crown. The dramatic size as well gives it a religious feel. Cecco again shows he uncanny ability to resemble Caravaggio to build connection. Caravaggio’s work surround religion had the ability to provide “ direct communication..[and] establish” a bond “between the spectator and the sacred scene[s]” (Chorpenning 145).“When standing up close I felt that looking up I was another person there looking to where he is pointing. The dramatic scene is something to behold in person that is so interesting. The contrast of the angel and Jesus who are lighter than anyone else from the dark background make them stand out. The light sources that help bring in contrast is like a ray of light or even a spotlight light. The way the light falls helps reinforce the importance of Jesus and
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.
While the Flemish were proficient in oil painting, Italian Renaissance artists continued their predecessor’s use of tempera. Furthermore, the paintings were ultimately created for different purposes and separate viewers. Although both works are centered on the defining moment of the annunciation, The Merode Altarpiece incorporates this scene into a secular setting, therefore differing from Fra Angelico’s The Annunciation which was painted for a monastery. Finally, Flemish and Italian Renaissance paintings differ in levels of realism. Although the Flemish painters were skilled in portraying realism of physical forms, they lacked a full understanding of linear perspective. In contrast, the Italian Renaissance artists were well versed in linear perspective but lacked a complete grasp of the natural
“The Met’s very own Mona Lisa” (Tomkins 9). That is what Duccio di Buoninsegna’s Madonna and Child painting is known as today. “The Metropolitan Museum of Art bought the Madonna and Child for forty-five to fifty million dollars” (Tomkins 1). However, the painting was not always in public hands; in fact, the Met purchased the last known work of Duccio in private hands. Originally, the painting was held in the private hands of Adolphe Stoclet and his wife. When the couple died, their house and their collection went to their son, Jacques who held onto the painting, and passed it down to his daughters who lent it to an exhibition in Siena of Duccio and his school. The painting was eventually withdrawn from the exhibition and sold (Tomkins 2). Madonna and Child painting dated 1300 and was painted by Duccio di Buoninsegna a Sienese painter, who is considered the founder of modern Italian painting. I chose to research this painting because the subject matter of religious imagery and symbols interests me. Also because when I looked at the painting the emotion on the Madonna’s face almost jumped out at me. It is as if, she is looking at her newborn child with this deep sadness, which almost makes you think that the painting is foreshadowing the death of Jesus Christ. In addition, the burns of the side of the frame peaked my interest, as to why they were there. Art critics were also interested in this work they even consider Madonna and Child one of Duccio’s perfect works, and it said to be worth all the other paintings exhibited under the name of Duccio (Christiansen 14). The Madonna and Child painting’s iconography, imagery, emotional appeal to the viewers, and meaning all make this painting still a great work of art today.
... right is the only part of the painting that has gold leaf in it, on her gown, what looks to be a gold collar, and a gold necklace with a pearl. The gold she is garnished in represents royalty and the holy. An interesting illusion is seen the left angel’s hair and how it’s illuminated by the sun creating a halo.
... the way that the artwork is resembled in the religious background of the gospel but reconstructed in to a celebrating impression. Throughout the fresco painting it depicts the myth of the Christ’s three fold temptations relating back to the article that “distinction between fresco and panel painting is sharp, and that painters are seen as competitors amongst themselves discriminating also, between the difference in genuine attempts in being better then the other.” Baxandall, “Conditions of Trade,” 26. in relation, the painting concerns the painter’s conscious response to picture trade, and the non-isolation in pictorial interests.
The title of the piece, Madonna of the Clouds, implies setting; however, Mary’s robes blend in with the surrounding cherubs, creating a mass of folds. Donatello shows perspective through subtle changes in the depths of carving – stiacciato relief – a technique that he devised (Britannica). This varying strength of line utilizes shadows to enhance emotion, as seen with the Virgin Mary. The concern that she shows for her son in her arm foreshadows his fateful end. This expression though, is not only demonstrated within the facial features of her profile, but also in the ever-present shadow under her chin, directly above Christ’s head. Stiacciato relief depends on the reflection off of pale materials, like marble, in order to manipulate light to enhance or detract from the forms themselves (Britannica). Donatello controls his medium to work with his audience’s position, casting shadows to be where they are most meaningful. Awareness of his viewers’ angle ceased to allude Donatello as his earlier marble masterpieces, the sculptures at the Or San Michele, employed their alleviated situations to accentuate his subject’s personalities as seen with Saint