Painting of the Day #2Painting of the Day #2The ‘High Renaissance’The ‘High Renaissance’

What is deemed as ‘High Renaissance’ art is a period What is deemed as ‘High Renaissance’ art is a period in Italy between 1450ish and 1527. The artists during in Italy between 1450ish and 1527. The artists during this time period were—as they say, “The Shit”. this time period were—as they say, “The Shit”. The Catholic Church played a profound role in the The Catholic Church played a profound role in the lives of pretty much everyone...especially in Italy. lives of pretty much everyone...especially in Italy. Pope Julius II (aka ‘The Warrior Pope’) began Pope Julius II (aka ‘The Warrior Pope’) began commissioning artists like crazy during this period and commissioning artists like crazy during this period and boy-o-boy out of the woodwork came some of the best boy-o-boy out of the woodwork came some of the best damn artists EVER. When they dug in and started damn artists EVER. When they dug in and started producing, they made huge advances and truly awe producing, they made huge advances and truly awe inspiring pieces. Boo Yah! inspiring pieces. Boo Yah!

Michaelangelo Michaelangelo BuonarrotiBuonarroti Tomb of Pope Julius II 1505-1545 (yes, 40 years!)Tomb of Pope Julius II 1505-1545 (yes, 40 years!) St Peter’s Cathedral, RomeSt Peter’s Cathedral, Rome

This tomb is made of 40 sculptures and was unfinished at the time of his This tomb is made of 40 sculptures and was unfinished at the time of his death (69). That’s Moses-front and center and the Pope right above him- death (69). That’s Moses-front and center and the Pope right above him- maxin’ and relaxin’ playboy style. To help you get an idea of the scale of maxin’ and relaxin’ playboy style. To help you get an idea of the scale of this, Moses is ten feet tall.this, Moses is ten feet tall.

There’s a few things to take note of in this painting...The painting is obviously all about the Jesus but it’s emphasized with a strong one There’s a few things to take note of in this painting...The painting is obviously all about the Jesus but it’s emphasized with a strong one point perspective where that single meeting point is his face. The dark doorway things on his right and left walls and the ceiling grid all point perspective where that single meeting point is his face. The dark doorway things on his right and left walls and the ceiling grid all point to his gourd. Just about everyone at the table is either pointing to him or looking at him, and the big doorway in the back frames point to his gourd. Just about everyone at the table is either pointing to him or looking at him, and the big doorway in the back frames him perfectly. Oh, and he’s right in the middle of the damn thing. I’ve never spoken to anyone who has seen this in person, but judging him perfectly. Oh, and he’s right in the middle of the damn thing. I’ve never spoken to anyone who has seen this in person, but judging by the size, Jesus would be about 7’ tall in the piece. The Shaquille Oneal of deities, if you will.by the size, Jesus would be about 7’ tall in the piece. The Shaquille Oneal of deities, if you will.

Oh yeah, see the only guy who’s leaning back and his face is turned away from the viewer? That’s Judas (he definitely ate that last Oh yeah, see the only guy who’s leaning back and his face is turned away from the viewer? That’s Judas (he definitely ate that last popper).popper).

The original artwork was a fresco piece, it was painted right on the wall. Though not uncommon for this time DaVinci was not The original artwork was a fresco piece, it was painted right on the wall. Though not uncommon for this time DaVinci was not practiced in this medium and the painting started to deteriorate before he was dead. It’s been restored so many times that any original practiced in this medium and the painting started to deteriorate before he was dead. It’s been restored so many times that any original paint is said to be long gone. DaVinci later mastered fresco painting by writing his Graffiti name “Owtlaw” all around Rome.paint is said to be long gone. DaVinci later mastered fresco painting by writing his Graffiti name “Owtlaw” all around Rome.

Jesus' ‘nice guy’ Jesus' ‘nice guy’ image is shattered image is shattered when he finds out when he finds out that there’s no more that there’s no more jalapenojalapeno

poppers.poppers.

The Last SupperThe Last Supper Milan, refectory of Milan, refectory of

the Santa Maria delle the Santa Maria delle Grazie conventGrazie convent

1494-1498 1494-1498 181 x 346in181 x 346in (that’s like 15x28’!)(that’s like 15x28’!) Tempera with oils on Tempera with oils on

white lead and white lead and calcium carbonatecalcium carbonate

Oily Northern EuropeOily Northern Europe Jan (pronounced Yon) Van Eyck Jan (pronounced Yon) Van Eyck

kicked things into high gear when kicked things into high gear when he became the first person to he became the first person to make oil painting into a legitimate make oil painting into a legitimate medium in art. Before Van Eyck medium in art. Before Van Eyck people mostly painted w/ tempera people mostly painted w/ tempera paint (you probably finger painted paint (you probably finger painted w/ tempera...the best thing about w/ tempera...the best thing about it is that you can totally get it in it is that you can totally get it in your eyes)- oil based paints at your eyes)- oil based paints at this time were used primarily to this time were used primarily to seal tempera paintings. seal tempera paintings. Fortunately, Van Eyck found a Fortunately, Van Eyck found a suitable way to take advantage of suitable way to take advantage of the slow drying oil based paints the slow drying oil based paints and began to use this to make and began to use this to make paintings that one could simply paintings that one could simply not create w/ slow drying not create w/ slow drying tempera. While Italy was crankin’ tempera. While Italy was crankin’ out sculptures, these out sculptures, these breakthroughs in oils brought a breakthroughs in oils brought a new invigoration to Northern new invigoration to Northern European Renaissance art.European Renaissance art.

Below detail: 'Jan van Eyck was here 1434'Below detail: 'Jan van Eyck was here 1434' (no (no shit!) click for linkyshit!) click for linky

The Marriage of Giovanni Arnolfini and Giovanna Cenami The Marriage of Giovanni Arnolfini and Giovanna Cenami 1434 Oil on Oak, Natl’ Gallery, London 1434 Oil on Oak, Natl’ Gallery, London

Far Right- Annunciation (remember the Fra Angelico one? Far Right- Annunciation (remember the Fra Angelico one? That’s Gabriel talking to “Crip” Mary this time. That’s Gabriel talking to “Crip” Mary this time.

The MFin’ The MFin’ Sistine Chapel Sistine Chapel

ceilingceilingFew art historians will argue that this is Few art historians will argue that this is

the single greatest piece of artwork the single greatest piece of artwork ever made. ever made.

Funny thing is, Michelangelo REALLY didn’t Funny thing is, Michelangelo REALLY didn’t want to paint it. He considered himself to want to paint it. He considered himself to be more of a sculptor and was hesitant to be more of a sculptor and was hesitant to take on this epic project, but it was for take on this epic project, but it was for Pope Julius II (who Michelangelo Pope Julius II (who Michelangelo criticized for his need for grandeur). In criticized for his need for grandeur). In his journal, Mike constantly bitched about his journal, Mike constantly bitched about this piece. He built a scaffold and for 4 this piece. He built a scaffold and for 4 years he painted on his back, damaging years he painted on his back, damaging his vision and all kinds of stuff (not to his vision and all kinds of stuff (not to mention chronic paint-in-the-bearditis!). mention chronic paint-in-the-bearditis!). In the journal he spoke about having to In the journal he spoke about having to hold letters above his head to see them hold letters above his head to see them properly when he was off the scaffolding.properly when he was off the scaffolding.

So Michelangelo actually declined the So Michelangelo actually declined the commission but eventually agreed when he commission but eventually agreed when he

was allowed to paint whatever biblical stories was allowed to paint whatever biblical stories he wanted. In all, the ceiling consists of 300 he wanted. In all, the ceiling consists of 300 paintings. The Creation of Adam (left) is the paintings. The Creation of Adam (left) is the

centerpiece. It took 3 out of the 4 years to centerpiece. It took 3 out of the 4 years to paint this one panel. God is a real giver in this paint this one panel. God is a real giver in this

one, he’s instilling life to Adam and the big one, he’s instilling life to Adam and the big Playa is about to get him a sweet hook-up Playa is about to get him a sweet hook-up

(that’s Eve that G-Money has his arm around).(that’s Eve that G-Money has his arm around).

Bottom left is the Great flood and directly Bottom left is the Great flood and directly below is the expulsion from Paradise. I hate below is the expulsion from Paradise. I hate

snakes, that doesn’t seem so paradise-ey to me.snakes, that doesn’t seem so paradise-ey to me.

The Last JudgementThe Last Judgement(wall behind the Sistine Chapel (wall behind the Sistine Chapel

altarpiece)altarpiece)

Christ is in the middle of the painting, Christ is in the middle of the painting, and man he’s fucking PISSED! and man he’s fucking PISSED!

Through out the painting people are Through out the painting people are cowering at his wrath (including Mary). cowering at his wrath (including Mary). People are ascending and decending at People are ascending and decending at the will of the big cheese and his saintly the will of the big cheese and his saintly

homies. The dead are rising and homies. The dead are rising and carnage is everywhere. carnage is everywhere.

Sooo heavy metal.Sooo heavy metal.

‘The artists self-portrait appears twice: in the ‘The artists self-portrait appears twice: in the flayed skin which flayed skin which Saint BartholomewSaint Bartholomew is is

carrying in his left hand, and in the figure in carrying in his left hand, and in the figure in the lower left hand corner, who is looking the lower left hand corner, who is looking encouragingly at those rising from their encouragingly at those rising from their

graves.graves.

-from www.WGA.hu-from www.WGA.hu this was the last piece of the Sistine this was the last piece of the Sistine

Chapel to be finished. It was finished Chapel to be finished. It was finished at the very end of the High at the very end of the High

Renaissance, marked by the sack of Renaissance, marked by the sack of Rome in 1527Rome in 1527

If you want to learn more about the ceiling check out this vatican site...it goes into detail that I If you want to learn more about the ceiling check out this vatican site...it goes into detail that I really can’t go into here. http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/CSN/CSN_Volta.htmlreally can’t go into here. http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/CSN/CSN_Volta.html

EndEnd..

Christ, I can’t wait to get to the late 1800s.Christ, I can’t wait to get to the late 1800s.