Transcript Critical Thinking #3

Group 5
Stacy Westlund
Stephen Woodward
Stacy Seabright
Brittney Via
Elizabeth Shipp
Grant Willhite
Kalia Smith
Chosen by: Stephen Woodward
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Title: TRAVELERS AMONG MOUNTAINS AND STREAMS
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Material: Hanging Scroll, ink and colors on silk.
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Date: 11th Century
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Artist: FUK KUAN
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Time Period: Northern Song Dynasty
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Location: National Palace Museum Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of
China.
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Source: Textbook; Marilyn Stokstad; Art History
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The initial feeling of infinity I received from my first viewing of
this painting threw the ideals behind gravity right out the
window. Based upon the observation that the artist probably
grew up in the Northern Song Dynasty and probably worshipped
in the art of Buddhism, it could be safe to state that the artist had
a divine tone of an ultimate tranquility which he so elaborately
expressed within this painting. His god shines in the lines drawn
and sleeps within the artist’s usage of space in the infinite sky
behind the disappearing mountain. The utter aesthetic presence
of people within this paradoxical illusion signifies the trip of life
and the breakdown of the material world in order to understand
that even the power of a mountain is nothing in the wake of
infinity.
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The most prevalent observation may be how the artist
incorporated the background color of the silk into the painting
itself.
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Title: DEATH OF SARPEDON
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Date: 515 BCE
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Artist: Painter- Euphronios/ Potter- Euxitheos
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Period: Early Greek
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Location: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, lent by
the Republic of Italy
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Source:. Page 127 of Art History Volume 1, Third edition By:
Marilyn Stokstad
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This artwork is significant because it depicts Sarpedon, a son of
Zeus, being carried off the battlefield, killed by a Greek warrior
while fighting for the Trojans. Sarpedon is being carried by
Hypnos (Sleep) and Thanatos (Death). The potter used red-figure
technique when creating this krater, opposed to traditional (at
the time) black- figure. The handles curve upward, which is
unique, they are shaped like the leaves on a flower; this
technique is called calyx krater. The painter showed an early use
of personification by using the characters Sleep and Death,
giving them human qualities like carrying the body of Sarpedon.
The painter Euphronios also created real space by using
foreshortening so they appear almost three dimensional.
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I choose this art work because it reminds me of a wonderful
summer I spent in Greece, a lot of the pottery and art work I saw
there was red-figure as well as black-figure, but they both have a
distinctive Greek feeling associated with them to me personally.
Chosen by: Brittney Via
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Chosen by: Stacy Seabright
Title: MADONNA AND CHILD
Date: 1266 – 1337 BCE
Artist: Giotto di Bondone
Period: Early Greek
Location: The National Gallery of Art in Washington,
DC
Source: The National Gallery of Art website
Giotto’s art was created in the early fourteenth century,
but his art did not become popular for a century later.
The Madonna and Child was the center part of a fivesection polytych. The background of the painting
utilized a conservative Byzantine-style background in a
gold leaf, this is to symbolize the realm of heaven. The
white rose is a symbol of Mary’s purity and also
references the innocence lost trough original sin. The
art introduces a new naturalistic trend in painting. The
infant is based on realism verses a gesture of a
philosopher. The infant Christ grasps his mother’s left
index finger in a typically baby fashion. He playfully
reaches for the flower her holds.
I choose this portrait because I attended Catholic
school as a child and the painting brought back
wonderful beautiful memories. Learning about the
Virgin Mary as a child always interested me, and the
base of my prayers were of her
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Title: TEMPLE PENDANT AND STICK
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Date: late 11th-first half
of the 12th century
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Artist: Unknown craftsman from Constantinople
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Period: The Middle Byzantine Period
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Location: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, N.Y.
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Source: MetMuseum.org
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The gold pendant is hollow and is open at the top. Such
ornaments were worn in pairs by both men and women, near the
temple or cheek. The hinged loop at the top can be swung open
so that the pendant could be suspended from a cap, headdress,
band, or even the hair. They were probably an element of court
attire. The cavity was probably meant to hold a piece of cloth
soaked in aromatic oil, which would surround the wearer with
perfume. The tapered stick could have been used to insert the
cloth into the hollow. This type of personal ornament may have
been invented in Constantinople, and this pendant may well be
the oldest surviving example. The pendant and stick are
decorated with very finely executed cloisonné enamels in bright
colors--red, blue, and green. On the pendant a central medallion
with a beardless male head, possibly an angel or Saint John, is
surrounded by an intricate pattern of tiny flowers, interlocked
palmettes, and multicolored patterned borders. The stick is
covered with minuscule crosses.
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I choose this piece because I love the detail. This pendant was
very small, measuring only 4.9cm. The stick was 5.1cm. The stick
was believed to have been made to aid the cloth through the
narrow cavity of the pendant.
Chosen by: Stacy Westlund
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Chosen by: Elizabeth Shipp
Title: Discus Thrower (Diskobolos)
Date: 450 BCE
Artist: Myron
Period: Early Greek
Location: National Museum, Rome
Source: Art History Vol. 1 Page 106
This piece of art is very important and iconic to
Ancient Roman art. Myron, the artist is often credited
as the first artist to be able to capture "rhythmos"
which is a balance and harmony. This piece is also
significant because it was originally done in bronze,
which shows the growing technologies in art around
this time in Greece. Many replica's exist today,
including the one in the book that is currently in a
museum in Rome. This also represents Greek culture,
because of the competitions that were often held and
the founding of the Olympics. Although this statue is
very famous, it is often criticized nowadays because it
is a rather ineffective way to throw this discus.
Personally, I liked this piece. I think it is very
interesting and detailed. The muscles are all very
detailed and makes it look very realistic. Although it is
not the best representation of how to throw a discus, I
think its technological advances make it worthwhile to
learn about.
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Title: Saint Luke
Date: 1360-1364
Artist: Master Theodoric
Period:
Location:
Source:
I've chosen Master Theodoric's painting of
Saint Luke to analyze. The painting is believed
to be a self portrait of Theodoric himself.
Above Saint Luke is a halo which signifies his
holy stature in society and in God's eyes. Also
he has a baby ox above his shoulder which is a
symbol typically associated with a Saint.
An interesting factor about this picture is that
it is one of the very few pictures of the time
that had the character staring into the views
space. This, of course, adds a very interesting
and unique side to the painting. The painting
is currently located in a church in Prague.
Chosen by: Grant Willhite
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Chosen by: Kalia Smith
Title: Virgin and Child Enthroned
Date: 1280 – 1305/10
Artist: Cimabue / Giotto Di Bondone
Period: Fourteenth Century
Location: Church of Santa Trinita / Church of the
Oginissanti
Source: Art History Vol. 1 Page 562
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Originally created in 1280 by Cimabue for the Church
of Santa Trinita, Giotto’s rendition of Virgin and Child
Enthroned, repainted in 1305-10 for the Church of the
Oginissanti shows central and overtly symmetrical
compositions of the figures to reflect the original
artists influence. The one difference in the newest
painting of the two is Mary’s individualized actions,
meaning her hand and obvious clothing or drapery
differences as well as just holding her child instead of
pointing his way.
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I believe the choice of colour and placement as well as
how much detail has been placed into the newer piece
is much better. More highlights and accents on the
people to show them there is a light emanating from
Mary herself.