Worksheet # 18

Late Gothic: Italian

 

Basic influences in Late Gothic: Italian Art includes

1.     Political structure which remains imbedded in the economics of trade and commerce aligned with the changes in religious philosophies.

2.     The idea that reason might become important over faith allowed for scientific questioning.

3.     Conflicts arising out of examination of nature more closely, a philosophy of St. Francis, which he says may bring one closer to God.

 

Sienna and Florence become important centers for business and political structures.  The influence of wealthy families led not only to conflicts of the faithful with the reasonable, but also with a middle class and finally a development of arts and literature by individuals rather than anonymous artisans.

v      Define/describe the Maniera Greca style of painting with at least 3 characteristics.

 

 

 

v     Two trends in sculpture are seen in the works by father and son Nicola and Giovanni Pisano.  They both created pulpits with relief designs of the Annunciation and Nativity.  Describe the difference between these two images.  (Fig. 19-3 & 19-4)

 

 

 

  

 

Teacher:  Cimabue                            Student: Giotto

More formal                                        observation

Light weight                                       sculptural quality

Little depth                                        weighted figures (mass)

                                                          Environment/furniture

                                                          Associated with full figure

v      Comparing the Madonna Enthroned with Angels and Prophets by Cimabue with Giotto’s painting of the same subject, list four characteristic that distinguish the two styles.

 

 

 

 

v     Sienese painters took Byzantine composition and presentation seriously.  Duccio is an example of this trend.  However, figural rendering was more naturalistic and in some cases enhanced with individual likeness and rendering of form.  Explain some of the innovations that are seen on the main panel of the Maesta Altarpiece (fig. 19-10) and the Betrayal of Jesus (fig 19-11).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Teacher: Duccio                                          Student: Simone Martini

Byzantine style                                            formation of International style

More naturalistic in appearance                   brilliant color

                                                                   Lavish costumes

                                                                   Processions

Simone Martini’s Annunciation is unlike Giotto’s style.  There is no sense of depth but radiant color and elegant shapes.  The work is more about surface splendor than the drama of the angel’s message.  Also influenced was the northern style gothic frame, it became much more decorative than that of earlier Italian design.

 

v     Describe the role of Master-Apprentice-Assistant as it reveals the changes in these years of increasingly elevated status of the artist scientist.

 

 

 

 

 

Teacher: Duccio                                Students: Pietro and Ambrogio Lorenzetti

Shallow space, landscape                   distinct perspective and illusion of depth

More naturalism and form                  Landscape has a distance

Attempt at depth is apparent

 

v     Look at the works by both artists and determine how you can recognize the differentiation in the styles. You can list but look for definite characteristics and be able to defend your findings. What purposes do the paintings serve?