To Future Art Historians...

1. During class take notes on your notecards. Not only will you have an expansive collection of notecards but you will also have an organized collection of notes!

2. Read the section you will be doing in class the next day, the night before. Always. It helps you memorize the pieces because you will see them twice in a short time span. You will need all the tricks you can for memorization.

3. Think of unique phrases to write on each card to help you memorize the pieces. For example, Netherlandish Proverbs by Pieter Bruegel the Elder is also the cover of Fleet Foxes self titled album. So on that notecard I wrote Fleet Foxes. 

4. Our teacher had us write a blog a week for the first semester of Art History, each piece I wrote about I was sure to memorize. I would recommend even picking one piece a night, your favorite piece, to write a short paragraph about saying why you like it. It can be a free write but spending more time on it will help you remember it more. Good luck and have fun.

Shield Jaguar and Lady Xoc, Maya, Mexico 725 vs. Venus of Urbino, Titian, 1538

The women of Mayan culture played a vital role in religious rituals. Because fertility was an important theme in Mayan culture, the women depicted in art where often adorned in extravagant jewelry. Although Lady Xoc, the Sheild Jaguar’s wife, is knelling beneath her husband, her extravagant headdress and necklaces show her importance in society. In this relief, Lady Xoc is piercing her tongue with a barbed wire to signify the birth of a son to the Lord’s other wife. The fertility of Mayan women was something cherished by their culture. Women were adorned and the key parts of religious practices that worshipped new offspring. Women in Italy during the Renaissance were idealized for different reasons. Venus of Urbino was the idealized women and wife for patron Guidobaldo. Women were seen as sexual figures and this women looks as though she is offering herself to the viewer as her maids search for her clothing. Unlike Lady Xoc, the Venus is not participating in any sort of religious ritual. Although the color originally on the Shield Jaguar has faded, there is an evident deep contrast in the reds and whites of the Venus of Urbino. The pale white skin of her body makes the Venus seem pure. The colors also organize the painting, the woman is reclining on a diagonal and the reds from the cushion and the maid’s skirt bring the viewers eye to a diagonal. In Mayan culture, women were nearly worshipped as important integrals to society for fertility purposes, in Italy women were seen as important integrals for pleasurable pursuits. 

Presentation of captives to Lord Chan Muwan, Maya, room 2 of structure 1, Bonampak, Mexico, 790 vs. Third of May, 1808, Francisco Goya, Madrid, Spain, 1815

The important aspects of Mayan culture recorded in the Bonampak mural demonstrate warriors surrounding captives. The artists placed decorated warriors on the top and bottom terraces of the mural. In between to the two tower levels are the captives who are not in as decorated clothing and lie on the stairs. In the top center of the Bonampak mural, a central warlord is holding and staff and seems to be demanding something of the naked and knelling captive. Below the knelling captive is a dead captive sprawled out in front of the Lord. Surrounding the deal captive are numerous other naked captives awaiting their deaths by the Lord. Captives were often slaughtered for sacrifice or for the purposes of war. Because the Bonampak mural was probably not patron and approved by Lord Chan Muwan himself, the painting offers an eyewitness view to what life was like in Mayan culture at the time. The artist highlighted the power of the Lord in his clothing and stature in comparison to the captives that surrounded him. In contrast to the Mayan outlook on violence in Society is the view of the Spanish massacre during the early 19^th century through the eyes of Francisco Goya. In Goya’s, Third of May, 1808 a French firing squad attacks a group of Spanish peasants. The peasants, who have more facial expression than the Captives of Lord Chan, show empathy and horrified anguish as they are about to be murdered. Not unlike the Bonampak mural, the powerful murders and easily recognizable by their uniforms while they peasants wear rags in comparison. The violent scene in Third of May is much more dramatic than the scene on the Bonampak mural, but both artists cleverly show the empowered and the powerless on different sides of the frame (Bonampak mural in the middle, Third of May on the left side).

Chartres Cathedral vs. Castillo Temple (Maya)

Select and fully identify two examples of sacred spaces from different cultures, one of which must be from beyond the European tradition. Discuss how each space accommodates both the beliefs and practices within its culture. 

Chartres Cathedral in Chartres France and the Castillo (Mayan) in Chichen Ista Mexico both represent places of worship but for two completely different cultures and theological views. Size and exterior were both important facets during the construction of these buildings. The Mayans, whose religion was polytheist and believed the solar calendar played an integral role in their daily life, modeled their temples with such designs. The Steps on the Castillo sum to 365, as many days as there are in the year. Although the Mayans did not have access to compasses, they still were able to angle the temple in position with the sun so that the shadow takes the shape of a serpent that slithers along the pyramids face. The Chartres Cathedral is meant to be seen from the interior by the worshippers rather than viewed from the outside. The Chartres Cathedral also has a play on light in the Virgin and Child and angels detail of stain glass that is meant to transform the interior of the cathedral into a mystical lux nova (new light). The interior of the Castillo temple housed royal burial chambers and figures of fallen warriors. It is also believed sacrifices would be housed in these temples. Because there is not much room for light to enter the temple, the Castillo was not primarily used as a worship gathering place on the interior. The Chartres Cathedral’s primary propose as a sacred building was to hold religious gatherings for the audience to hear sermons and see the relics important to Christianity. The Chartres Cathedral dramatic interior elevation and nave is designed to accommodate worshippers and allow for the central focus of the church to the alter located in the transept. The design of Gothic architecture allowed worshipers to congregate inside in large numbers. The Mayan's religious belief focused more on sacrificing people and animals to their gods to receive thanks in return. Castillo accommodates the sacrificial belief of the Mayans because it houses the sacrifices as offerings to the gods. The long steps to the top of the Castillo temple create a painful enough journey that entering the temple would not be something the common folk would do. On the contrary, the Chartres Cathedral is designed to allow easy access for many people to view the relics and her about their single god with no sacrifices involved. While Castillo and other Mayan temples were inspired by the mountains surrounding the landscape, the Chartres Cathedral and other Gothic cathedral’s relied on the decedent designs of the architect while following the rules of Gothic architecture.

The Goldsmith- More Advertisements

To be honest, I am becoming very tired of blogging about Christian art. Scouring chapters nineteen and twenty in Gardner's Art through the Ages for something secular but not 'boring', I have decided to write about Petrus Christus' A Goldsmith in His Shop. Unfortunately (for me) this painting still has religious ties. The goldsmith has often been argued to be Eligius, the patron saint of goldsmiths. Ironically, there was once a halo around the goldsmith's head, but was discovered to be added by someone other than the artist, so was removed by art historians.
During the Northern Renaissance, many wealthy men wanted important events in their lives to be depicted in an oil portrait. This painting could have been a couple buying their wedding ring from Eligius or a scene that Christus thought would make a lovely portrait, there is really no way of knowing. As in every Flemish painting, all "everyday objects [have] symbolic reference". The belt next to the women in the painting represents chastity, the scales represent the Last Judgment (and are used to measure the rings).

The object in this painting that intrigued me most was the coral. Most of the paintings we have seen so far do not include natural objects. The coral, along with the precious stones, beads and crystal, are to show the audience what materials the goldsmith had in his possession to turn into jewelry. The pewter pitcher, placed for offerings, almost exemplifies the use of this painting for propaganda. The painting, placed inside a church, showed how extravagant the goldsmith's work was and how every couple wanted a piece of it-- another couple is depicted walking towards the goldsmith's shop in the convex mirror (although not as well articulated as van Eyck's mirror in Giovanni Arnolfini and His Bride). As I see it, this painting is no more of an advertisement than a commercial seen on TV today-- everything strategically placed to capture and entrance the viewer.

Merode Altarpiece

Painted by Robert Campin in the early 15th century, Merode Altarpiece depicts the angel Gabriel telling Mary about the birth of her son. With the invention of Oil paints, Robert Campin was able to add detail to his paintings that he other wise wouldn't have been able to depict with tempura paints. Oil paints allowed for a revolution in art. Small metaphorical details showed allowed subtle representation of religious figures.
The 3rd triptych on the right, shows Joseph, alone, working as a carpenter. The triptych also shows a mousetrap-- representing Christ is destined from reincarnation. The bait in the mouse trap represents Christ who lures the devil, who seizing the bait, is destroyed. The room that Joseph is in, is much less lavish than the room that Mary resides. Mary's room is elegant to enthrone the mother of Christ.
The light cast upon Mary represents birth and an open book and lily's represent the Virgin. Mary is lying in front of a fireplace and is being greeted by the angel Gabriel who is telling Mary of her new child. The room that Mary is in is the most famous of the three triptych because it shows the Annunciation.


The final of the three triptychs shows the man who has paied Robert Campin to paint this watching the Annunciation. Wealthy Dutchmen often wanted to have themselves represented at noble religious scenes. The Dutchman is in the wake of Gabriel with his wife opening the door to Mary and Josephs house to hear the miracle.

Many critics point out that little is mentioned of Joseph and Mary's marriage in this triptych. Indeed the painting shows Joseph in what looks like another house entirely. Joseph and Mary's marriage is not the point of the Annunciation and should not be represented with weight. The Annunciation is clearly shown, as Gabriel tells Mary of the birth of Christ (just in time for Christmas).

The Birth of Propaganda: Saint Francis Alterpeice

Bonavantura Berlingheri lead the Italo- Byzantine Style by combining Byzantine art and highlights some of St. Francis's most noble achievements in a naturalistic style. Why a piece of propaganda? Bonavantura Berlingheri highlights the miracles St. Francis preformed during his lifetime, but his altarpiece was created 9 years after his death.

Completed at a time when the Papal states were in disarray (The Great Schism, MEndicant Orders, and Confraternities), the St. Francis attempted to persuade Christian's to devout their life to the Church, as St. Francis had. The life of a monk meant being completely stripped of all pleasures in life. St. Francis exemplified this belief by going to such an extent as stripping in public, a register that is shown on his altarpiece. 

There are six registers on St. Francis's altarpiece. The top left register shows St. Francis receiving the stigmata (the wounds placed on his hands to shows his devotion to God). The register below this one shows St. Francis preaching to the birds. The register below him preaching to the birds shows him preaching to townspeople, possibly the poor, from a carriage, while he was on a pilgrimage. The top and bottom registers on the right hand side show him helping others, possibly the poor again. The middle register on the right hand side shows him stripping in a public square proving his devotion to God. 

At a time when the church seemed to be failing, their attempt to recruit followers seems a bit stretched. Although St. Francis's gestures towards the poor and devotion to God are noble acts, his sacrifice to God and self inflicted wounds make the life of a monk not appealing.