9. Artists within a culture, often use depictions of different groupings to communicate larger social, political, and historical concerns. Select and identify a painting from Northern Baroque that represents a grouping and explain how it communicates social, political, and historical concerns.
21. Artists within a culture, often use depictions of different groupings to communicate social, political, and historical concerns. Select and identify two paintings from Spain or Northern Baroque that represent a grouping, and explain how they communicate social, political, and historical concerns.
Editor's Notes
Velazquez greatest masterpiece, in both form and content. He is standing before a large canvas, the young infanta Princess Margarita appears in the foreground with her two maids, little people and a large dog, the middle ground are woman in mourning attire and a male escort. In the back ground a chamberlain stands in a brightly lit open doorway, the room is the artist’s studio in the palace of Alcazar in Madrid. Known for its visual and narrative complexity, What exactly is taking place? May be painting a portrait of the King Philip IV and his Queen Mariana, their reflections appear in the mirror on the wall, it may only be the image he is painting of the Queen and king.Velazquez wears the Royal Order of Santiago, elevating him to knighthood Alternating darks and lights draw us deeper into the canvas; the mirror simultaneously reflects out into space
King’s court painter, included curating for the king’s growing art collectionCreated timeless artworks out of routine assignments to commemorate the achievements of his patron.
What is Baroque about this painting?Fascination with illuminationemotionindividual imagesLight represents divine illumination,as a dramatic device Theatrical contrasts of deep shadow with bright highlights. The illumination has spotlight quality to it.Strong diagonal lines.Early shows intense interest in Caravaggio tenebrismDeceptively simple genre scene has a sacred quality about the expressions, the handing over the glass, the clarity of the glassRounded foreground figures, water Carrier, jugsWater is sweetened by a fresh fig
Strong diagonals direct viewer’s attention to ChristHeroic musculature of figuresSpontaneity of expressionDramatic use of lightingIntensely religious, possessing exuberance and passion
What do you see? Heroic gesturesDemonstrative spiraling figuresIntensity of color,Sumptuous full fleshed womenTwenty one huge historical paintings allegorical retelling o f the live of maria de Medici, Queen of France , Wife of Henry IV
Most famous student of RubensThames river is in the backgroundAn equerry (an officer who is the personal attendant of the British monarch or a member of the royal family) and a page attend himRelaxed and stylish image of a monarch. regal poise, air of absolute authority that his parliament resented and soon rose against him.He turns his back on his attendance as they serve his needsHe stands off center but glances at the viewerHe is of course looking down on the viewerCharles was the only King to be put to death by parliament
What is Baroque about this painting?Fascination with illuminationemotionindividual imagesLight represents divine illumination,as a dramatic device Theatrical contrasts of deep shadow with bright highlights. The illumination has spotlight quality to it.Strong diagonal lines.Early shows intense interest in Caravaggio tenebrismDeceptively simple genre scene has a sacred quality about the expressions, the handing over the glass, the clarity of the glassRounded foreground figures, water Carrier, jugsWater is sweetened by a fresh fig
Strong diagonals direct viewer’s attention to ChristHeroic musculature of figuresSpontaneity of expressionDramatic use of lightingIntensely religious, possessing exuberance and passion
What do you see? Heroic gesturesDemonstrative spiraling figuresIntensity of color,Sumptuous full fleshed womenTwenty one huge historical paintings allegorical retelling o f the live of maria de Medici, Queen of France , Wife of Henry IV
Most famous student of RubensThames river is in the backgroundAn equerry (an officer who is the personal attendant of the British monarch or a member of the royal family) and a page attend himRelaxed and stylish image of a monarch. regal poise, air of absolute authority that his parliament resented and soon rose against him.He turns his back on his attendance as they serve his needsHe stands off center but glances at the viewerHe is of course looking down on the viewerCharles was the only King to be put to death by parliament
Suggest the strong training she receivedDetailed, precise, accurate, Imbued with spontaneityWhat is she communicating about herself? Resting on an easel infront of a paintingPalette in her left hand and brush in her right announce that the painting is her creationAllows the viewer to evaluate her skillHer specialty was genre scenes just like the image she has created.She is self assured with her quick smile and relaxed poseShe does not wear the traditional artist’s smock Her elegant attire distinguishes her socially as a member of a wealthy family, which she is also revealing
Previous group portraits where spread around the room sitting, Rembrandt Chose to portray the members of the Amsterdam surgeons’ guild who commissioned this portrait clustered together on the left side, foreground appears the corpse the Dr. Tulp a noted physician is dissectingForeshortened corpse, Individual students, poses and facial expressionsThey have a certain degree of intensity one looks out at the viewer and another looks at the open bookThis innovative approach to group portraiture helped Rembrandt’s career , he was only 26 when he painted this
Amplified the complexity and energy of a group portraitUsed light to enhance the image. The darkness is due to the varnish, which has darkened over timeOne of civic guard group portraitsThe captain and his lieutenant contributed to Rembrandt’s fee The girl’s identity has yet to be determinedThis is one of six group portraits that for the Musketeers hall, a large and prestigious interior space I the city, Captures the excitement and frenetic activity of the men preparing for a paradeScurring about, trying to organize themselves animates the imageHe incorporates the three most important stages of using a musket, loading, firing and readying the weapon for reloading
How does he use the psychology of light? Light and dark are not in conflict, they are reconciled, merging softly and subtly to produce the visual equivalency of quietness, the mood is tranquil meditation of philosophical resignation a cluster of emotional tones heard only in silence
Sense of peace and familiarityDrawn curtain the viewer has to peer through, an outsider’s glimpse of a private momentOne wears an elegant coat of ermine and silkThe other is a maid who interrupts her lyre playing to hand her the letter the lute was a traditional symbol of loveMaster at pictorial light, Camera obscura
Dutch landscape, precision, sensitivity, Haarlem was a major dutch cityWindmills, church, quiet serenity, that approaches the spiritual
