Chapter 13: Gothic Art in Italy

Sienese or Florentines

Italy was divided into a spectrum of city-states, ruled by an assortment of princes, prelates, and the occasional republic; the citizens call themselves _________.

Guilds

______ were artist associations that determined:

• how long apprenticeships should take,

• how many apprentices an artist could have, and

• what the proper route would be for an artist trying to establish him- or herself on his or her own.

free-market

The guild system remained in effect until replaced by the ____ approach that took hold in the eighteenth century.

Franciscans

the devoted followers of Saint Francis of Assisi

Dominicans

the faithful followers of Saint Dominic de Guzman

Trecento

the 1300s, or fourteenth century, in Italian art

Maniera greca

(Italian for “Greek manner”) a style of painting based on Byzantine models that was popular in Italy in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries

emotions

Expressions and gestures intensify ______.

Arena (Scrovegni) Chapel

• It is also called the Scrovegni Chapel after the name of the patron, Enrico Scrovegni.

• Some narrative scenes illustrate biblical episodes of ill-gotten gains.

• It was built to expiate the sin of usury through which Scrovegni’s father amassed a fortune; shows the rise of patronage from the European business class.

Last Judgment from the Arena Chapel

Content

• Christ as judge, coming at the end of the world.

• Heavenly powers are arranged in an organized chorus; heads aligned in a row.

• Twelve apostles are arranged symmetrically around Christ.

• Cross at bottom center divides the saved from the damned.

Lamentation from the Arena Chapel

• Shallow stage; figures occupy a palpable space pushed forward toward the picture plane.

• Diagonal cliff formation points to main action daringly placed in lower left-hand corner.

• Sadness of scene emphasized by grieving angels.

• shows scenes of Jesus’s followers mourning his death