Gothic Art in Italy

- built over ancient Roman arena

- also called Scrovegni Chapel after name of patron: Enrico Scrovegni

- built to expiate sin of usury through which Scrovegni's father amassed a fortune

- some narrative scenes illustrate Biblical episodes of ill-gotten gains

Arena (Scrovegni) Chapel

- Christ as Judge, coming at end of world

- heavenly powers arranged in organized chorus; heads aligned in a row

- twelve apostles arranged symmetrically around Christ

- cross at bottom center divides saved from damned

- on side of saved: Enrico Scrovegni as donor presenting model of church to angels

- right: devil, who eats and excretes sinners

- those guilty of usury/money-related sins (eg prostitution) particularly noted

Last Judgement

- scenes of Jesus's followers mourning death: usually scene contains Mary, St. John, and Mary Magdalene

- St. John throws head back; Mary Magdalene cradles at Jesus's feet; Mary holds Jesus's head

- left: Old Testament scene of Jonah being swallowed by whale and returning to life; parallel w/ New Testament scene of Christ dying and rising from the dead

- shallow stage, figures occupy palpable space pushed forward toward picture plane

- diagonal cliff formation points to main action daringly placed in lower left-hand corner

- modeling indicated direction of light; light falls from above right

- range of emotions: heavy sadness, quiet resignation, flaming outbursts, despair

- sadness of scene emphasized by grieving angels, barrenness of tree

- figures on lower left seen from back and isolate main action

- clear foreground, middleground, and background

- angels assemble in Heaven

- two anonymous figures in back suggests space extends beyond

Lamentation