Values and Vanities

What does our public art say about us?

• Values

• 4. values: [plural] principles or beliefs. the principles and beliefs that influence the behavior and way of life of a particular group or community

• Vanity

• 1. being too proud of yourself or your appearance. the fact of being too proud of your abilities, or too interested in your appearance

How does this monument reflect American values?

How does this monument reflect American vanities?

Public Works of Art

Symbols of Society’s Values or Vanity?

excavated from surrounding rock

Monoliths

Stonehenge, England 2500 B.C.E.

Easter Island (off coast of S.America) 1000-1500 A.D.

Olmec Civilization, Mexico 1200–900 BCE

any man-made structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or continuous

occupancy,

Buildings

Taq-I Kisra, Ctesiphon, Ancient Persia 540 AD

The Forbidden City, Beijing 1406-20

Kuala Lumpur

Twin Towers, NYC

is an object which serves as a focus for memory of something, usually a person (who has died) or an

event.

Memorial

Lincoln Memorial, Washington, D.C.

Canadian National Vimy Memorial, 1922

is a tall, narrow, four-sided, tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the top

Obelisks

Obelisk of Senurset, 1970 (?) B.C.E.

Washington Monument, Washington, D.C.

is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons.

Tombs and

Masoleums

The Sphnix (c.1400 B.C.E.)

Taj Mahal, Agra, India, 1653

a physical structure used for religious activities

Religious Sites

Ellora Caves, India, 5th–10th century

Ankgor Wat,Cambodia, 12th century

St. Peter’s Cathedral, Rome

a structure that spans a space while supporting weight

Arches

Arch of Constantine 315 A.D.

Gateway to India

is a sculpture in the round representing a person or persons, an animal, or an event, normally full-length, as opposed to a bust, and at least close to life-size, or larger.

Statues

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Statue of Liberty, New York

The UNESCO "Statement of Significance" describes the statue as a "masterpiece of the human spirit" that "endures as a highly potent symbol—inspiring contemplation, debate and

protest—of ideals such as liberty, peace, human rights, abolition of slavery, democracy and opportunity."

The Florence Baptistry Doors

The Florence Baptistry Doors

A competition for immortality

A competition for immortality

“The Italian Renaissance began the opening phase of the

Renaissance, a period of great cultural change and achievement

from the 14th to the 16th century.

* excerpt from Wikipedia

The word renaissance (rinascimento in Italian) literally means "rebirth",

and the era is best known for the renewed interest in the culture of classical antiquity after

the period that Renaissance humanists labeled the Dark Ages.”*

* excerpt from Wikipedia

Madonna, by Duccio, 1311

an example of a painting done in the time known as the Dark Ages

Comparison of two Madonnas. from the Dark Ages. from the Renaissance

Duccio, Madonna and Child, 1280’s

Raphael, Sistine Madonna, 1514

The Italian Renaissance began in Florence. The

Medici family ruled there and they were great patrons of the arts.

The Big Three of the Italian High Renaissance

These artists actually came later than the period we’re talking about here, but they are names you’ll probably recognize.

Michaelangelo Raphael Leonardo da Vinci

A view of the city of Florence

The square of the Duomo, the great cathedral, was the focal point of the

Florentine society.

The Duomo facade

The Campanielle designed by Giotto

The dome was designed by Michaelangelo

The Battistero di San Giovanni sits at the center of the square.

It is the first cathedral in Florence, built in

1059.

The Battistero di San Giovanni (Baptistery of St John)

The Baptistery’s ceiling

South Doors, Andrea Pisano 1330-36

The Baptism of Christ, Andrea Pisano, 1330-36

This frame is called a quatrefoil – it means “four

leaves”

In 1401 a competition was announced to find an artist to design the doors for the north side of the building.

Two sculptors, the well known Filippo

Brunelleschi and the unknown Lorenzo

Ghiberti became the two finalists.

Brunelleschi, Sacrifice of Issac, 1401-03

Ghiberti, Sacrifice of Issac, 1401-03

The entries for each artist in the competition

Lorenzo Ghiberti, the North doors, 1403-24

In 1425 Ghiberti started another set of doors for

the baptistery which he did not finish until 1452.

when Michelangelo saw these doors he said they “were fit to be the Gates of Paradise”. They are

known to this day as exactly that.

Lorenzo Ghiberti, Porta del Paradiso,, 1425-52

The Fall of Jericho

What are the values and vanities of ISB?