A Day at the Theatre!

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn was such a famous painter from the 17th century that he has become known by only his first name. This painting called The Blinding of Samson was done in 1636.

This is a piece that we looked at briefly in class. It is called Madonna of the Roses and was painted by Martin Schongauer in approximately 1472. What can you find out about this piece and what is your response to it?

Daybreak

This most famous of Maxfield Parrish's works is entitled Daybreak. It was created in 1922.

The one and only...

So you knew it had to be a Caravaggio, right? This piece is known as the Crucifixion of St. Peter. It was completed in 1601. Let's see what you can did up on this piece. Remember to add your personal thoughts about this especially since Caravaggio planned his pieces to engage you emotionally.

Let's take a look at another Van Eyck

The painting below is known as Lucca Madonna. It was completed by Jan Van Eyck (who we should be familiar with by now) in the year 1436. I think saying that it is an oil painting would be way too common, don't you think? What can you find about this piece that is interesting and what is your reaction to it?

Madonna of the Magnigicat

The Madonna of the Magnificat is the most famous of Botticelli’s virgin paintings. At least five replicas have been created.  Although it is a tempura painting, its detail and luminosity make it appear as if it has been rendered in oil. Part of this may be due to the amount of gold that Botticelli used. Usually reserved for small amount of brocade on clothing or ornamentation in the halo, the gold here is lavishing placed on rays of light, clothing, crown, and even on the strands of hair. This tondo (round) painting was one of the costliest of its time.

The subject matter is one we have often seen before but perhaps shown in a new light. Although Christ is usually the one who is central to the mother and child scene, here Mary is the one who is the key player as she finishes inscribing the words to her famous song sung in Luke 1:46-55 which starts,

 “My soul doth magnify the Lord:
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour
Because He hath regarded the lowliness of His handmaid.”

She is being crowned the Queen of Heaven. Her crown of stars alludes to the name often given to her as the Morning Star. Besides the angels, crowded into the scene are figures known as none other than the children of the famous Medici family (remember them?).  So what other icon can we find? An apple? No! A pomegranate, the symbol of resurrection since the seeds burst forth just as Jesus would come from the grave.

There are several things that I especially love about this piece. Although the figures seem very crowded into the space, the composition has a wonderful flow. I am drawn from Mary to Christ then through her hand to the Medici and back to Mary again. Botticelli is a true master when it comes to the modeling of forms. Each figure has substance and mass and seems to be made of flesh. Especially interesting to me is the thought about who might have been Botticelli’s model. If one looks at the Birth of Venus, there is a consistency between facial features. Did he model both of these from the same young lady? Who was she?

Second Attempt

Here is a picture for Maurice.