14th Century Art in Europe.
* Interior of Scrovegni Chapel, painted fresco by Giotto di Bondone. He was a major contributed to the early Renaissance movement in Europe and Italy during 14th century.
* Florence is important city in lesson. City embracing culture of fine arts during this period, allowing the renaissance to flourish
Florencce
* Wealth and individualism promoted artistic growth
* Ex: Florence Cathderal-- dome is famous, calle duomo.
* Florence was flourishing in independent wealth. All city states in Italy were own governments, in competition with each other. Florence was powerful due to its wealth.
* Wealthy people would commission works of art, or art of philantrophic sense for public viewing.
* Huge demand on artists--competition arises from artist to artist.
* artists experiment with new techniques
* Florence was known for its economic and social freedoms--capitilistic economy. Artists increased personal expression in their works in the city, rather than conforming to a style.
Guilds
* A guild is an association of people organized by occupation.
* Most artists belonged to guilds
- Pharmacy guild. Majority of artists were part of pharmacy guild, because like pharmacists that pulverize different ingredients and elements to create remedies for patients, artists too break down pigments to develop the colors for their works of art.
- Sculptors guild
(Other examples: Silversmiths guild, silk workers guild, merchants guild, doctors guild, sculptors guild)
- Similar to workers' Unions today
* Can develop sense of unity among workers, acting as a support group. Also provides training, sets standard, ensures job security, and sets market value for pieces of work. Also marketed their work.
Florence Cathedral
* Diagram, illustration example. Shows Renaissance in long,rectilinear shapes. Also octagonal dome, and niches (or apse) that surrounded the back of the Duomo, almost octagons if they stood on themselves. Also drum that Duomo sits on is octagon. Not organic or flowing--rigid and structured, clear reflection of importance in math in this context.
* Florence's most celebrated architectural marvel.
* People who created this were artists--not builders. Artists were ones who developed design.
* Weren't very concerned with engineering of cathedral, more interested in design of building.
* Renaissance-- "Re" means again, "naissance" means birth. Rebirth of antiquity--Greek and Roman ideas return. Such as geometric shapes and proportions, mathematical logic and consistency, emphasis placed on proportions and sizes of subjects in composition in painting, or sculptures.
* Long complicated history of cathedral. Original plans designed by Arnolfo di Cambio, approved in 1294. Wasn't completed until 1378. The Duomo was one of the last things to be done. Sought large dome of heaven, but consuction was unsure. But architect and engineer Brunelleschi in 15th century, developing an engineering model--since dome didn't need any interior supports; it was self-supporting, allowing the space to be opened up completely.
Fresco Technique
* Two main types are very similar and can be both added onto the same piece.
Buon fresco is a technique in which water-based paints are applied on wet plaster. First a wall is prepared with rough coat of plaster, then an artist draws image on their using charcoal, then the artist takes a thin layer of wet plaster, applying it to a small area of new drawing. (giornata, meaning "a day's work." Plaster dries very quickly, but doesn't cure for a day. During curing stage, plaster is still very porous, so when water-based paint is applied to water-based plaster, the paint is absorbed into plaster, beoming part of the wall. Had to be done in small sections because to ensure detail they could only have a certain size. For example, a face would take an entire day's work. Whereas blue sky in back could be done quickly. Artists break down the overall creation an detection for the wall by showing lines.
* Fresco secco is when paint is applied to a dry plaster wall. Plaster and paint do not mix, are two very separate surfaces. Over time, fresco secco wasn't as durable or reliable, and it would peal off the wall. However, in the case of ultramarine blue, since it was volatile and ustable when mixed with wet plaster, it could only be applied to dry plaster. Similar to gold leafing or gilding could only be applied to a dry wall.
* Frescoes were used on inside of chapels, chapel walls.
Painting Techniques
The steps of painting according to Cennino Cennini-- in 14th century. Said to be a gentleman's job to paint, reflects increase of artists' social status.
- Cover with linen (fine fabric) soaked in gesso (thick, white paint). Gesso can also be applied with larger paint brush. Several coats would be applied to Lenin, in between each coating it was burnished (taking smooth stone or rounded piece of glass and rouding it--making it smooth and removed of pores. After many layers of gesso and burnishing, it was supposed to feel like a piece of "ivory" according to Cennini.
- Sketch composition with charcoal
- Ink-in final version of design. Fine line outline. Taking a feather, the charcoal could be dusted away. Similar to paint by number, where artists paints piece by piece, and last bit of painting would be face. Cennini said faces should always have under layer of green paint, then flesh tones could be applied.
- Paint with tempera—made from Egg yolks and pigment powder.
Early Renaissance is 14th century, high Renaissance is 16th century.
Definitions
Guild - an association of people organized by occupation
Florence Cathedral - cathedral in construction from 1296 to 1436, beginning with architect Arnolfo di Cambio, and ending with the addition of the dome by Filippo Brunelleschi
Buon Fresco - technique in which paint is applied with water-based paints on wet plaster.
Fresco secco - when paint is applied to dry plaster wall
Gesso - An art medium used as surface preparation for painting
Tempera - a type of paint that was the main medium used for panel painting, illuminated manuscripts, and paintings during the Renaissance