Giotto di Bondone
THE OFFICIAL
TRINITYPREPART
STUDY GUIDE TO
ART HISTORY TEST #1
"Surely all art is the result of having been in danger,
of having gone through an experience all the way to the end,
to where no one can go any further."
Rainer Maria Rilke
The story of art
is the story of people. So, we begin our study of Western Art with Giotto.
Giotto
ca.1267-1337
Giotto, according to Vasari, was the student of Cimabue, Maestro of Florence. Cimabue followed the Byzantine tradition. Giotto did not.
People do not follow movements. People follow people. Giotto opened a door that Masaccio walked through.
Masaccio
1401-1428
Masaccio was not his 'real' name, it was a nickname (masaccio means 'messy' or 'slob'). The painter's given name was Tommaso di Ser Giovanni di Simone. Masaccio is easier to remember. When it came to the fresco, Masaccio was anything but messy. Masaccio gave paint the ability to express emotion.
The Expulsion From the Garden of Eden
1426-1427
Brancacci Chapel, Florence
Masaccio gave paint the ability to tell stories.
Tribute Money
1426-1427
Brancacci Chapel
Masaccio also showed the world, for the first known time in Western Art, linear perspective.
Trinity
1425-1428
Santa Maria Novella
Masaccio built on the foundation Giotto laid, ushering in the age known as
Renaissance.
There are three undisputed 'Grand Masters' of the Renaissance-
Leonardo, Michelangelo and Raphael.
Leonardo da Vinci
1452-1519
Homo Universalis, or in the Greek, πολυμαθής, refers to one who excels in many things- a universal man. Leonardo was such a man. Student of Verrocchio, Leonardo was a scientist, engineer, inventor, architect, musician, anatomist, poet, botanist, mathematician, and cartographer. Leonardo also painted.
La Gioconda
1503-1507
To list Leonardo's contributions to art (and the world) would exhaust any time or space this post can afford. Let us be content with two words-
chiaroscuro ('from light to dark') and sfumato ('to vanish' or 'to shade').
Chiaroscuro and Sfumato
Grand Master #2- Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1475-1564, was born in the Tuscany region of Italy and studied under the maestro Ghirlandaio.
Pieta
1499
Though a Universal Man himself, Michelangelo was to stone what Leonardo was to science. Michelangelo was 24 years old when he carved The Pieta. It is the only piece he signed his name to.
He also painted.
Sistine Chapel
1508-1512
Grand Master #3- Raphael
1483-1520
Raphael studied under the Umbrian master Perugino. Raphael's life was brief, and yet, he imparted elegance to his figures.
The Alba Madonna
1511
Raphael also captured all three Grand Masters in one fresco.
The School of Athens
1509
From Giotto to Raphael, a period of 150 years, in a matter of moments.
The story of art
is the story of people. So, we begin our study of Western Art with Giotto.
ca.1267-1337
Giotto, according to Vasari, was the student of Cimabue, Maestro of Florence. Cimabue followed the Byzantine tradition. Giotto did not.
The Madonna and Child is a theme that has been painted countless times. It is Giotto that breathed life into Mary and the Christ, creating a shift from stylized form to human form. It is Giotto that, for the first time, made us believe Mary is occupying space in the third dimension.
Nativity
Scrovegni Chapel
1304-1306
Using both Buon Fresco (wet) and Fresco Secco (dry), Giotto inspired generations of artists. In the Upper Church, Assisi, Giotto painted scenes from the life of St. Francis.
Sermon to the Birds
Upper Church, Assisi
1277-1279
People do not follow movements. People follow people. Giotto opened a door that Masaccio walked through.
1401-1428
Masaccio was not his 'real' name, it was a nickname (masaccio means 'messy' or 'slob'). The painter's given name was Tommaso di Ser Giovanni di Simone. Masaccio is easier to remember. When it came to the fresco, Masaccio was anything but messy. Masaccio gave paint the ability to express emotion.
1426-1427
Brancacci Chapel, Florence
Masaccio gave paint the ability to tell stories.
1426-1427
Brancacci Chapel
Masaccio also showed the world, for the first known time in Western Art, linear perspective.
1425-1428
Santa Maria Novella
Masaccio built on the foundation Giotto laid, ushering in the age known as
Renaissance.
There are three undisputed 'Grand Masters' of the Renaissance-
Leonardo, Michelangelo and Raphael.
1452-1519
Homo Universalis, or in the Greek, πολυμαθής, refers to one who excels in many things- a universal man. Leonardo was such a man. Student of Verrocchio, Leonardo was a scientist, engineer, inventor, architect, musician, anatomist, poet, botanist, mathematician, and cartographer. Leonardo also painted.
1503-1507
To list Leonardo's contributions to art (and the world) would exhaust any time or space this post can afford. Let us be content with two words-
chiaroscuro ('from light to dark') and sfumato ('to vanish' or 'to shade').
Grand Master #2- Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1475-1564, was born in the Tuscany region of Italy and studied under the maestro Ghirlandaio.
1499
Though a Universal Man himself, Michelangelo was to stone what Leonardo was to science. Michelangelo was 24 years old when he carved The Pieta. It is the only piece he signed his name to.
He also painted.
1508-1512
1483-1520
Raphael studied under the Umbrian master Perugino. Raphael's life was brief, and yet, he imparted elegance to his figures.
1511
Raphael also captured all three Grand Masters in one fresco.
1509
From Giotto to Raphael, a period of 150 years, in a matter of moments.
This is a wonderful summary and resource - thoughtfully prepared.
ReplyDeleteThanks from a homeschool mum!