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Art History 112
Recitation Section 003
Thursday, January 28, 1999
Announcements:
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Emily (the T.A.) will e-mail us with homework assignments
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if we are responsible for knowing specific images
for the exam, our T.A. will let us know
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homework assignment: column worksheet
Lecture notes: The
green text refers to slides displayed during recitation.
Blackboard Notes*
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atmospheric perspective
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linear center of vision
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vanishing point
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horizon line
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orthogonals
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transversals
* as always, consult From Abacus to Zeus for further explanation
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Perspective
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Foreshortening: (from From Abacus to Zeus) "A method of representing
objects or parts of objects as if they were being seen from an angle and
receding into space..."
Two Roman Examples (about 20
B.C.)
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non-mathematical (other techniques)
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atmospheric perspective (less focus on distant objects)
is used
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angles point back toward the background
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overlay
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not convincing perspective
Two Medieval Examples
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"Building of the Tower of Babel"
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awkward angles
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multiple-perspective
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"Madonna Enthroned" (plate 32 in Janson)
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awkward angles
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multiple-perspective
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the viewer see straight on and down into the throne
Two Late Medieval Examples
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"Christ Entering Jerusalem", Duccio
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multiple-perspective: shows us everything at once
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"Good Government in the City", Lorenzetti (plate
37)
Summary
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nature and naturalism became increasingly important
closer to Renaissance
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Brunelleschi is credited with the development of
one-point perspective
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used in architectural drawings
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technique used with other media
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technique spread through community of artists by
word-of-mouth
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orthogonals: lines toward vanishing point
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transversals: horizontal lines
know these...
Uccello, "Battle of San Romano",
c. 1455
(pl. 563)
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vanishing point not as clear as with "Delivery"
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image is less ordered
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action dominates
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broken spears form the orthogonals and transversals
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Perugino, "Delivery of the Keys",
Sistine Chapel, c. 1428 (pl. 586)
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more ordered through perspective
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clear vanishing point
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plaza is grid-like
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orthogonals and transversals are apparent
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daVinci, "Last Supper", 1495-98
(pl. 596)
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Christ is the focus and the vanishing point
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vanishing point = focus point = order
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atmospheric perspective outside windows
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foreground is clear, sharp
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da Vinci,
"Mona Lisa" 1503-05 (pl. 598)
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atmospheric perspective
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not one-point perspective
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landscape/background did not have the importance
it did in the Northern Renaissance
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not less effective because not using one-point perspective
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Notes on Perspective:
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open window: perspective assists the picture plane through which
the viewer sees a visually rational world
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human proportion: people are drawn to scale (based on mathematical
plans); results in all figures of equal distance from the vanishing point
appearing to be the same height
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arrow and the eye: using the technique of an archer, the artist
closes one eye to make perspective judgments; results in an artificial
view, as the view from two eyes is always different (more accurate) than
from one
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