Monday, February 15, 1999

Announcements:

• exam on Wednesday
• bring a blue book; write in pen
• check web site for Brunelleschi's Dome

• Northern Renaissance does not display a return to classicism the way the Italian Renaissance does
• mastered the oil medium
• obsessive attention to detail

• merchant class commissioned these piece
• oil and tempera
• transition period between the two media
• may have been aided by brother Hubert
• the images work together
• cohesive message of Christian faith
• exterior view
• the Annunciation
• middle tier
• inspired by the Merode Altarpiece
• interior view
• radient color
• depicting Christ in His majesty
• Mary to His right
• John the Baptist to His left
• traces of progression of mankind
• shown as a gentle God
• almost scientific detail of the crown, gown, and throne
• Mary shown reading devotional
• with flowers and jewels adorning her hair
• detail of singing angels
• almost portraits--not generalized
• detail of musicians
• Adam and Eve
• not the anatomical accuracy of the Renaissance artists
• shows the humanity
• luminosity of the whole, because of the oil
• Adoration of the Lamb (at center)
• lamb is a symbol for Christ
• Christ's sacrifice
• also Christ as shepherd
• allegorical--not literal
• sacrament of the Mass
• fountain
• symbolic: heavenly waters of God
• quench the thirst of the seeker
• dove represents the Holy Spirit
• Crusaders (lower tier at far left)
• every community of the world coming together unified by Christ
• uses scientific accuracy--cataloguing the material world
• discussion of spiritual life through realism/naturalism perfection in detail = perfection of God

• Christ being taken down from the cross
• accompanied by Mary, Mary Magdalene, St. John
• not symbolic, literal interpretation
• more tragic view of religion
• setting is shallow
• pressed up against the picture plane
• sharing space with the viewer
• Mary Magdalene is the picture of human suffering
• texture of fabric
• juxtaposed with N. European donor's gown
• figures are interlocked

Garden of Delights, Hieronymus Bosch, c.1510-15

• oil on wood panel
• triptych
• panel read from left to right
• unusual
• controversial
• our interpretation is affected/influenced by our knowledge of Freudian thought
• we may have lost touch with the original meaning
• Bosch was a devout Christian
• Left Panel
• God is a serene oasis
• God introduced Adam and Eve
• catalogue of beings/creatures present at Creation
• vegetation is wild, out of control
• cat killing mouse: plants seeds for future evil
• Center Panel
• sexual experimentation of all kinds
• satanic demons leading men on animals around a pool of women
• eating fruit: sexual/sensual delight
• Right Panel
• Satan presides
• consuming and defecating souls
• disturbing images
• cacophony (almost audible)
• burning city: fall of civilization
• bagpipe represents male genitalia
• brothel in a bone-like structure
• Messages:
• compelling need ot follow conscious/faith
• difficult to avoid sin

Isenheim Altarpiece Mattias Grünewald, c. 1510-15

• folding polyptych
• used as part of the treatment in a hospital chapel
• closed: Crucifixion is visible
• open: scenes including the Resurrection
• St. Sebastian at right, St. Anthony at left
• detail of Christ figure (realism)
• thorns
• dirt
• mutilation of the body
• full presentation of the horror
• Grünewald is not interested in Renaissance theory
• anatomical accuracy
• perspective
• his concern is with Christ
• noticeable difference between Christ and the attendants