Basic ARH 1 knowledge

Covers: styles, material used, story represented

What material was “Madonna Enthroned with Angels and Prophets”?

Tempera on panel. Wooden panel with tempera made of egg and powdered pigments.

What material was “Madonna Enthroned”?

Tempera on panel. Wooden panel with tempera made of egg and powdered pigments.

What material was “Lamentation”?

Fresco painting. Painted directly to brick wall. Pigment used was lapis lazuli.

What is fresco?

“Cool to the touch”. 3 layered painting on brick wall. Arriccio (rough coat of plaster), Sinopia Sketch (red pigment painted onto Arriccio layer), Intonaco (2nd coat of plaster, smooth/skim coat, where you put the pigment to almost stain)

“Madonna Enthroned with Angels and Prophets” style?

Maniera Greca: italo byzantine style. Linear, flat, gold, frontal, symmetrical, no shadows, intricate line work. Hierarchy of proportion (Mary is bigger than the other figures to show importance).

“Madonna Enthroned with Angels and Prophets” story?

Common theme, Madonna and child. Mary holding Jesus surrounded by angels and OT prophets. Jesus making sign of the blessing, Mary looking at parishioners, intimate engagement with parishoners. OT prophets a symbol to events in the future like Christs crucifixion. Pie plate halos, Christ baby has a detailed one with a cross behind it.

Erased middle eastern identity, made the baby look old and wise, had big ears to show he was listening. Drew from memory of other works, doesn’t care for naturalism. Gold would glow in church lit by candles. 

“Madonna Enthroned” style?

More gothic style and painted more natural figures, greater interest in naturalism. Started working with perspective, steps. More emphasis on lighting and shadow, less line work. Awareness of depth and 3-d space from angels overlapping each other.

“Madonna Enthroned” story?

Theme of madonna and child again but now focus is on Jesus, more youthful. Prophets are behind the throne with the angels looking at Jesus. Angels faces are overlapped because he is aware how they have faces.

“Lamentation” style?

More naturalistic style, not as stiff poses showing lots of movement. getting closer to humanism. No center focal point or symmetry, not as much gold leaf. 

“Lamentation” story?

Jesus is being taken off of the cross by friends and followers.

Inside arena chapel, shows off wealth with blue pigment. Giotto got inspiration from the church services putting on the lamentation, looks a bit like stage work and lots of expressions.

Arena Chapel

Enrique wanted to show off his wealth and payed commission for works inside, lapis lazuli. Selfishly hoped to go to heaven by commissioning chapel arena. 

“Allegory of Good Government and Bad Government” material?

Fresco. fell off wall.

“Allegory of Good Government and Bad Government” style?

late gothic and modern renaissance styles. naturalism and spacial depth shown in the works.

“Allegory of Good Government” story?

Healthy well run city looks like: art and culture flourishes, economic strength, new construction, no crime/war. City government commissioned the paintings, almost like a warning to anyone wanting to disrupt the peace. inside council room.

“Allegory of Bad Government” story?

Vices shown are cruelty, deceit, fraud, division, war. Justice is bound up and there is lots of crime. tyranny.

What are the Virtues in “Allegory of Good Government”?

king is surrounded by the virtues: Faith, hope, charity, fortitude, prudence, peace. Justice is a woman who shows fairness in her scales, giving gifts to those who deserve it and beheadunig criminals on the other side. 

“Merode Altarpiece” material?

oil painting and tempra

“Merode Altarpiece” style?

Realism, meticulous detail, use of everyday objects to symbolize spiritual ideas. lack of consistent linear perspective, showing distorted space. introduction into orthogonals, to direct your eyes to certain objects and symbols. 

“Merode Altarpiece” middle panel story?

Annunciation of Mary, Gabriel is coming to tell her that she is the vessel to carry christ. baby flying is Jesus. contemporary flemish home is to show relatability with the viewer, not Middle East in the slightest. shows humility and casualness, she’s sitting on the ground. table isn’t natural on purpose doesn’t care for accuracy.

red (sacrifice) and blue (heavens) represent Mary in her clothes.

copper vessel- Mary is vessel

textile towel- crust washing feet

vase of lilies- visual symbol of Virgin Mary (lilies)

presence of lilies- two events: annunciation and easter. means beginning and the end

porcelain pitcher- popular pottery

1 candle lit- presence of god

Triptic

3 panels, portable, can close. Merode Altarpiece

“Merode Altarpiece” left panel story?

Two patrons who commissioned the story. Wealthy and devoted. statement of wealth to put themselves into a miracle as a present. set in contemporary time rather than in biblical times. artist is soldier guy in the back, couold’t sign names at this time.

roses in back- crown of thrones on Jesus during crucifixtion 

“Merode Altarpiece” right panel story?

Jospeh the carpenter. Table is tilted wanting us to show the contents. Tools shown in crucifixion, and that he is building traps to catch the devil.

rod- represents Joseph

Ghent altarpiece material

15 layer oil painting, amber resin, gin seed oil. lots of detail with oils.

“Ghent Altarpiece” style?

growing naturalism, no halos, grisailles (grey tones to create the sculpture carve appearance).

“Ghent Altarpiece” story?

Exterior: Annunciation, Mary visited by Gabriel to be told about vessel of christ. prophets have scrolls, Gabriel gestures upwards to the foreign upside down text- reference to how the word comes from god. Gabriel holding lilies, copper vessel, dove symbolizes christ. patrons on left and right sides. John the Baptist holds the lamb and points looking at patrons, John the evangelist is holding a chalice filled with serpents.

Interior:

Heaven above (Christ, Mary, John the Baptist, choir, Adam and Eve, cain and Abel). Mooned faced figures of Adam and Eve were live models. Eve has small fruit, always depicted differently during this time. Jesus has papal crown on head, earthly crown at his feet. Jesus is higher, but same size as everyone else, rendering it equal hierarchy. Mary wearing lily and rose crown and blue clothes, another symbol. choir has OT.

Paradise below: Lamb is sacrifice as he actively bleeds out for holy communion (christ sacrificial death and resurrection, eucharist). baptismal fountain present. prayer of saints and burning incense is connected to angels swinging sensors.

“Ghent Altarpiece” what do the doors symbolize?

Closed during feast days (like lent), opened during easter. Muted tones because of fasting during lent, go without colors. Celebration of the resurrection so more color.

Dismantled and stolen by nazis, also during iconoclasm, placed in less interesting frame

“Portrait of Giovanni Arnolfini and his Wife” material?

oil painting on oak panel

“Portrait of Giovanni Arnolfini and his Wife” story?

Legal document, business agreement showing that Wife is agreeing to the marriage. Giovanni Arnolfini, Italian and settled into north for banking, agreed to take up wife for a dowry (money given for marrying daughter). Women were burdens so sole purpose of her was to produce kids so she’s by the bed, and he’s by the window showing his duty is outside.

She is not pregnant but it is implied by the way she holds the fabric, symbolizes future offspring. Showing off money with puckering (excessive amount) from fabric, expensive jewelry, textiles. remove shoes when taking oath/vow. dog is foreground and symbolize loyalty and fidelity to the marriage agreement. she was 13-14.

Brass chandelier with one lit candle to symbolize god. Mirror shows artist and the couple, also shows scenes from stations of the cross (crucifixion).  Words read “Jan Van Eyck was here “ with the date, shows he is a witness, notary. Saint Margaret carved on dresser, represents marriage, patron saint of marriage. Center of the painting his their hands showing the agreement. She had head cover for modesty. Married many years after this painting, was misleading to call it the title.

“Man in a Turban” material?

Oil Painting.

On the frame was pseudo greek letter: ALC.IXH.XAN: “Jan Van Eyck, Best that I can do“

“Man in a Turban” style?

Was focused on more naturalism and realism because he celebrated himself, not focused on ideals (render so you are improving upon gods design). Made his chin/nose long, older, bloodshot eyes, thin lips, stubble. 

Turban was a style trend at the time, wanted allusion of wealth with clothes. 

“Man in a Turban” story?

Self portrait of himself. wanted to look wealthy so he dressed himself in fur trim around collar, red velvet turban, and blue velvet fabric, for the allusion. demonstrates his skills and achievements to his clients. self portraits became popular.

Printmaking

Europe is last to catch on because they used animal hyde (vellum) for paper. When they switched to the mass production of paper making they introduced printmaking. watermarks show where and when its produced. 

Woodcut where you cut away the negatives and raised lines hold ink. Gouge is carving tool used.

Revolutionizes society because people start engraving (intaglio) and making prints to sell, they collect prints. 

“Temptation of St. Anthony” material?

Print made from copperplate engraving on paper with ink. 

“Temptation of St. Anthony” style?

started to trademark and credit work, with monogram “M + S”, growing theme of humanism

“Temptation of St. Anthony” story?

St. Anthony is in a state of devout prayer and very stoic because of devotion to christ. Believed space between earth and sky had demons. Displayed in homes to show you should be devoted to faith and Jesus, should stay true to morals and not be tempted. 

was stolen a few times. 

“Sacrifice of Isaac” material?

Design a bronze cast relief in a quatrefoil frame.

“Sacrifice of Isaac” comparisons?

Brunelleschi: objects stacked frontally, appearing flat. characters break frame line. Isaac is being presented younger and in a more violent forceful way. angel comes in from side. 

Ghiberti: Handling of space and perspective was better. More orthogonanls for better progression in space. Smoother transition. Isaac is more athletic, noble, more dignified presentation (angel dense grab him, more willing). First nod at representation of classical body and idealistic. son is looking towards father, christ metaphor. Looking back at classical sculptures, showing increasing naturalism. Finer quality of garment created because Ghiberti was a metalworker and had experience.

“Sacrifice of Isaac” history?

The doors were removed for 1966 floods, where fsu helped salvage some artworks during the time. Doors now in museum and replicas stand. They were made with silicone molding finalized details, poured bronze over, then refinalized.

“Tribute Money” material?

Inside Santa Maria del carmine, where all are frescoes dedicated to St. Peter.

“Tribute Money” style?

First to effectively use one point linear perspective, very innovative. Medieval narrative style, used older styles continuous narrative showing same figure repeating, older styles. Contropasto stance from tax collector shows rise of humanism and renaissance. halos have perspective with each figure. Horizon line has to be at the height of the man. Light source comes from the actual window in the Brancacci Chapel, very clever. 

“Tribute Money” story?

In 1420s there was new efforts for more taxes, not favored by the people because Duke Milan was threatening to take over Milan. This piece symbols that taxation by showing St. Peter, first pope, kneeling by river getting coins from mouth of fish (miracle), then he’s being told to pay taxes from collector, lastly he pays the collector with the fish money. Foreground is tax collectors legs showing contraposto. supposed to show “even christ pays taxes".

“Holy Trinity” material?

fresco on the Santa Maria Novella walls

“Holy Trinity” style?

Used human proportions in squares and circles like the romans did, specifically Vitruvius used them for proportion. Created an optical illusion with one point perspective. Viewer stands on point on the ground, and sees the receding illusion in the painting. Was very innovative and advanced, prespectible lines (ascending and descending lines). Shows barrel vault with ionic capitals, corinthian of pilasters= roman triumphal arches showed portals. Showed spacial depth.

“Holy Trinity” story?

God is behind christ on the crucifix. dove sits on father’s neck, Mary is in blue on the left. St. John the Evangelist is in red on right. patrons are on sides. Adams body on the bottom in a Romanesque sarcophagus “I was once what you are, and you will become what I am.” painted because he didn’t get a frame.

“Duomo” how it was built?

Lost knowledge of how to build domes of that scale because in Middle Ages they used cut stone. 

Double helix dome with two shelves, to create a rib system. 8 ribs on outside, 16 on inside, it redistributed the weight and held the tension. used herringbone brick style to complete it. had stairs between the two layers, so it was very tight, built by the workers themselves. pulley system used to bring food to workers. 

“Duomo” story?

Dome competition took 2 years. they had to submit the object as a small wooden carving, not good because it doesn’t accurately represent the scale and material and engineering. Brunelleschi kept how he’d finalize it a secret, probably because he didn’t know, and he wrote down his idea. 

“Foundling Hospital” story?

orphanage

“Foundling Hospital” style?

Horizontal balanced columns showing a perfect ratio of proportion. System is column + bay + running arches. Hybrid idea bringing together both classical architectures together, roman and greek. Roman was piers and pilasters making a roman arch, also loggia arch opening. Greek was doric, ionic, corinthian, to hold up roofs, low bearing pillars (greek architecture practice). Added columns for a more open look. Used Pietra Sirenea for stonework. 

What is the set up of “Palazzo Medici”?

First floor was a banking business, where they earned their wealth. 2nd and 3rd floors were their livings spaces which was an urban concept. A family friend designed it. Set standard for Palazzo architecture. They placed it on busy street Via Larga, a block away from their chapel, showing this was a big statement. 

What is the material for “Palazzo Medici”?

1st floor- used expensively carved rusticated stone, massive and heavy. puny detailing, the entablature out of balances

2nd floor- grew more refined with smooth brick and repetition

3rd floor- perfectly smooth with biparte windows 

Cornice- (roof) Counterweight because the building would be unbalanced because of the thick bottom floor. very detailed and deep, it casted a shadow. 

“Last Supper” (Castagano) material?

fresco on dry plaster, but with some tempera as well

“Last Supper” (Castagano) style?

multi point perspective because the painting is in the dining hall, almost an illusion, 3d, wherever you sit its facing you. 

“Last Supper” (Castagano) story?

Jesus and the 12 apostles are eating dinner and Jesus just said “one of you will betray me.” this is causing figures to be contemplative and conversing with one another. Judas is sat on the opposite side of the table showing his betrayal. standard representation of the last supper. 

“David” (Verrochio) material?

Bronze statue

“David” (Verrochio) style?

more natural style because science and anatomy is more understood at this time. modest outfits, not rendered in classical but he had a desire to stick to it, not there yet though.

“David” (Verrochio) story?

David is a mascot of Florence because of recent events. They battle Milan and win, Milan was seen as a bigger and better fighter so when they won it showed how true they were in heart and spirit. Just like David killed his big opponent Goliath he fits perfectly with their story. Symbols shown were the swords and head. Head was originally separate but they moved it to the whole display. 

“Hercules and Antaeus” material?

Bronze statue

“Hercules and Antaeus” style?

Growing interest in reviving classical in renaissance, pulling stories from greek mythology. Antaeus is more active representation of humans, very lively than in other statues. Hercules is in contrappasto though. Put the statue outside of the stand its on.

“Hercules and Antaeus” story?

Antaeus is an earth god and gains power as he touches the ground (earth). Hercules is fighting him and is lifting him off the ground and breaking his connection with earth. Antaeus is flailing and screaming trying to live because his break in connection is killing him.

Artist was dissecting bodies at this time so he assumed he understood the body. But a bit of it is distorted because every muscle is flexed at the same time, and that isn’t real life.

Very small sculpture, 12 in, intimate look with viewer.  

“Christ delivering the keys to St. Peter” material?

fresco on sistine chapel walls

“Christ delivering the keys to St. Peter” style?

1 point linear perspective from temple doors. Biblical and contemporary leaders of “past and present” (idea often referred to). Not as developed as other countries in relation to renaissance styles.

“Christ delivering the keys to St. Peter” story?

In Rome, the Vatican is controlling art not the citizen commissions. They focus on whatever propaganda that will work for catholics. The papacy commission the simple design of sistine chapel (where they elect new popes). 

Jesus is giving keys to Peter because he is the first pope, the rock of the church. Taxation represented in background, stoning shown as well. 

He is describing ideal city, based on Albertis ideals: open piata, round temple in center, roman triumphal arches with candles and garland on top, classical references with added altar. 

“Birth of Venus” Material?

tempera on canvas

“Birth of Venus” style?

flat and contrappasto stance, pulling back from increase in naturalism. Artificial trees aren’t concerned with naturalism. No musculature. There is volume and weight on Nymph, but she’s floating so doesn’t make sense, not rendered in classical proportion. growing themes of escapism and lyrical imagined fantasy land with boticelli.

“Birth of Venus” story?

Venus was born from severed gentiles of father, she floated on a sea shell from the foam. Blown by Zephyra the wind god and Chloris. Nymph Pomona waiting to give her cape on shore.

Venus was based on an existing sculpture in the Medici sculpture collection, roman marble sculpture.

“Primavera” material?

tempra paint on canvas used for temporary display

“Primavera” style?

doesn’t care for linear perspective, so there is no sculptural weight. distinct fantasy and escapism styles, like characters floating. artificial trees again showing no care for naturalism. 

“Primavera” story?

Primavera means spring and rebirth and renewal. 3 graces are charity, beauty, and love, plus mercury. Venus means fertility and earthly. usually Venus and mercury aligned in horoscopes. Venus is surrounded by oranges, to personify spring. Chloris is transforming into the woman beside her as Zephyr the wind god is chasing her. Chloris on the right has flowers on her mouth, and she is slowly transforming into chloris on the left.

Studies are being done on the wildflowers. Believed to be commissioned by medici, and the painting to be side by side with “Birth of Venus”

“Madonna of the Rocks” material?

oil painting, but with muted saturation.

“Madonna of the Rocks” style?

Wanted emphasis on the lighting not the colors. So he used his hazy sfumato technique and added a brownish varnish tint on the painting. Showed lots more muted colors because he played with chiaroscuro from the lights and darks.

Foreshortening was used to show its coming directly out into your space, for example the hands in the painting. Baby is more chubby showing the dimples in his arm, another use of chiaroscuro.

Used a puritan structure on the figures, triangle hierarchy. wanted eyes to move around with gesture (gaze of eyes). not one point perspective because the nature used is chaotic and not linear.

Atmospheric perspective used to show depth on the landscape

“Madonna of the Rocks” story?

Mary is surrounded by two babies (left=John the Baptist, right=Jesus), and an angel. Jesus is giving hand gesture of the blessing, Mary is giving a protective gesture over Jesus almost like a metaphor for a halo. John the Baptist has animal skin he’s wearing for his symbol. Mary has her blue robes. 

water was placed in foreground for the metaphor of baptism, also having John the Baptist there enhances metaphor.

Currently still studies on the plants in painting.

Da vinci made copies of this for people. 

“Last supper” (da vinci) material?

experimented with fresco painting. didn’t paint on wet plaster, but also used oil AND tempra paints however he wanted, overlapping them. There was no climate control in the convents, and his lack of staining with the material caused it to fall off. 

“Last supper” (da vinci) style?

so much paint was lost that techniques were difficult to see. not much use of sfumato and chiaroscuro. he did use medieval number symbolism (4, 7, 3, 12) as he placed windows and tapestries on walls. didn’t add halos again moving to more humanism ideas. 

faces of people from the street were his inspirations for the faces in the painting, he sketched them down.

“Last supper” (da vinci) story?

Had very strategic placements and gestured to symbols in the painting:

knife in Peters hand because he cuts off ear of roman soldier

Bartholomew has knife pointed at him showing his martyrdom.

bread and wine showing eucharist and last supper

judas has money showing his betrayal. he also didn’t have questioning and recoiled back as Jesus says “one of you will betray me”.

this shows a more theatrical movement and emotion than the other last supper painting, like Jesus said a more bombshell statement.

its placement in dining hall was appropriate for the material.

“Last supper” (da vinci) conservation history?

Da vines experimentation with material caused it to need lots of upkeep. over 80% of original paint is estimated to be gone. 

Bombs were dropped during WW2 so it was damaged when they had to rebuild the structure and they cut into the painting. 

attempted to clean the soot and dust off with wine and used animal fat to shine the painting. but backfired because it brought more dirt.

many hands also attempted to repaint it. even one woman was called in to fix it and she romanticized it saying da vinci was whispering in her ear to fix it. 

“Mona Lisa” material?

oil painting on panel

“Mona Lisa” style?

Reviving the humanism style, used atmospheric perspective as well. used chiaroscuro around her face, also showing use love for the lights from dusk.

“Mona Lisa” story?

Lisa della Giocondo (shortened) was wife of wealthy Florence merchant. They requested a self portrait to be done and they never received it. it was found years later in his French studio, after da vinci had died. assumed to have moved his studios when taking job as royal painter and he forgot about the painting. 

She sits on open window/balcony. wearing heavy renaissance robes, velvets had subtle colors, downplayed needlework, hair is down, and lack of jewelry all showed the want for humbleness and modesty. Was rude and negative to show off wealth at the time so they wanted people to think of the family has humble. 

garment is very light and see-through, so possible child-bearing metaphors because of the garment they chose

in reality this painting is big mystery and one of the reasons its so popular. 

“Tempietto” building style and material?

Wanted a balanced and elegant dome, but also this was the ideal temple from Albertis temple (thollos). 

stylobate, raised platform, that led to single entry point. ring of columns around central cylinder, in doric order (the most basic order). entablature that was triggered glyphs and metopes. then a balustrade ring on balcony. kept elements of classical architecture, like greek and roman. 

Was aesthetically balanced on outside but was only a small single room on inside, the exterior height didn’t line up with interior. 

Cosmodi, in lay marble floors, inside the room, that also shows the design was made with the circle and squares. 

“Tempietto” story?

Translates to little temple. Designed to be in the courtyard of the Vatican City as it was commissioned by king and queen. Believed to be site of St Peter martyrdom.

“Pieta” material?

1 block of Carrara white marble, carved

“Pieta” style?

Nodding to classical past.

had to make Mary bigger to balance the two figures on the stand. but there is a proportion problem because Mary was a small woman and Jesus was a tall man. her base is wider and she was draped with a heavy fabric to make it look somewhat real, as well as they way she spreads her legs to hold him with her body. 

very new for someone to sign works of art like this. 

“Pieta” story”?

1st major commission by a French cardinal for his burial in Rome, supposed to be funeral monument. he was from the region with vesperbilds being popular, but he wanted his to be beautiful and not horrific like usual. 

Virgin Mary holding christ at crucifixion, which was rare Italian subject matter. showed he died in peaceful slumber, smaller wounds. wanted to idealize death and not fear it. 

Mary has vail on head and shows a serene face as she presents son to viewer. 

because michalangelo was so young he was the first artist to sign his name along the statue (banner across Mary). 

was attacked by man with hammer and had to be put back together. 

“David” (Michelangelo) material?

pre-cut Carrara white marble, carved

“David” (Michelangelo) style?

going back to classical ancient roman ideal sources because of the masculine nude.

had him in contropastto stance. hand is slightly bigger because it was the stabilizing element so the sculpture would be balanced. also the small tree trunk by the leg helped the structure.

seen progression from other David sculptures that would just add a small block, but he used the story and made the hand have a rock, which ultimately stabilized the sculpture secretly

“David” (Michelangelo) story?

was commissioned to come back to Florence for the sculpture. originally was supposed to be place on the Florence cathedral about 70ft from the citizens, so It is 17ft tall. 

he was the mascot at the time because of the history with Milan. showed a intense face like he was looking over Florence for an enemy to appear, almost like a guard. had a knit brow like he was just about to react. 

Wanted it to be upfront and center because he was like a mascot. but there was issues because of the nude sculpture and at the time it was seen as offensive. when it was placed in Palazzo Vecchio (city hall) they had a metalsmith create a skirt David could wear. 

fear of it collapsing because of its feet, it wears monitors nowadays because they need to monitor movement in case it falls and breaks from earthquakes, explosions, or just simple gravity.

riots in 1500s hurt David and they had to fix him. also someone with hammer took of toes.

“Sistine chapel ceiling” material?

fresco paintings, had help with professional painters since he wasn’t well versed in it.

“Sistine chapel ceiling” overall styles?

used a grid structure to set up all the paintings.

distorted figures by giving lots of unnatural muscles. they’re in stretched unrelaxed poses with uncomfortable tension. he had already reached a classical perfection in previous pieces so he expanded his limits by giving unnecessary musculature style.

“Sistine chapel ceiling” overall story?

Commissioned by pope Julius the second after he recognized Michelangelos works. Michelangelo complained while doing the project because he wasn’t getting paid on time and the work was taxing. He was doing many things at once including the funerary monument, so he was overloaded with work. Engineered his own scaffolding bridge to do the work since he wasn’t allowed to shut down the chapel. There was lots of civils and prophets painted on the ceiling, with 350 figures in total painted. Typology. gods butt.

lots of talk over conservators possibly removing painting, very controversial. they even glued layers back because of the fear of the paint falling. but after it was cleaned it went from being dark painting to vibrant painting which changed peoples view of Michelangelo. he was now a strong colorist instead of of being similar to da vinci.

“Creation of Adam- Sistine Chapel” story?

Shows river god, Adam reaching for God (they don’t touch fingers), who has the future generations behind him. some figures being eve, Jesus (not literal representation), generations to come. eve has hands on the baby.

some argue that the shape of the fur generations looks like a brain symbolizing god giving Adam intellect. 

“Last Judgement wall- Sistine Chapel” story?

Figures surround clouds as chaos ensures. Jesus looking vengeful is casting people to hell, and allowing people into heaven. surrounded by Mary. small book represented the very little amount of people going to heaven, big book for lots of people going to hell.

St. Bartholomew is seen as a gross skin melting creature, which is Michelangelo metaphorically painting his self in since he’s older and aging.

they added loan cloths to the work because of the amount of nudity shown, which was still offensive. they could not be cleaned off so they are stuck on the painting.

foreground showed a Catholic Church leader that critiqued Michelangelos works, going to hell. he criticized the nudity shown so he is nude, with his parts being bitten by a snake. he has donkey ears calling him an ass. was angry about this but pope couldn’t do anything because it was already painted. 

bodies very big and deformed with musculature, head small showing how much he went into the new style.

was called back twenty years later to do the wall, which isn’t fully vertical. 

“School of Athens” material?

fresco

“School of Athens” style?

classically inspired with triumphal arch. pagan and classical, christian idea being brought into this.

“School of Athens” story?

Great minds of past and present coming together in the painting, lots of figures.

represented the 4 branches of western learning: law. theology, philosophy, poetry

Aristotles gestures outwards to earthly space, as Plato points up to universal truth. 

plato’s face was based on da vinci. Michelangelo is seen thinking while sketching. Bramante in role of Euclid. lots of people represented here. 

The new St. Peters that Bramante has worked on is the backdrop.