Self-Portrait

by Durer

1500

1st to pose frontal instead of 3/4 pose

patterned after images of Christ

Isenheim Altarpiece

by Grunewald

1515

(hospital for St.Anthonys Fire disease)

Opens up in three pieces

1st view wings closed: Crucifixion, St Sebastian St Anthony 
2nd view: the resurrection, the Madonna and Child, Annunciation

Allegory of Law and Grace

by Lucas Cranach the Elder

1530

woodcut; depicts difference of fates btw Catholics and Lutherans.

Reformation period

The French Ambassadors

by Holbein the Younger

1533

clothings suggests occupation (priest & ambassador)

1point linear perspective

shows skull from side to show how skilled he is

MOMENTO Mori- reminder of death

meant to make audiece move around image

lutheran hymm in open book

The Battle of ISSUS

by Altdorfer

1529

expressive landscape

depcits Alexander the Greats victory over Darius of Persia

Planetary perspective ( ominicsent point of view looking down on the action from up above)

details suggest that events have earth-shaking importance

Peasant Wedding

by Bruegel the Elder

1568

Depicts gathering of rustic people in a barn that has been decorated for a wedding.

Italian perspective (room dominated by the table at which the wedding guests are gathered)

figures' weight and solidity adds impression of reality.

1600's

movements of extremes, drama, contrast, everything is loud

Calling of St. Mathew

by Carabaggio

1600

depicts precise moment of his calling to Matthew

St. Mathew is a tax collector

references Michealangelo with pointing gesture

uses light to spotlight Christ's presence

-tenebrismo effect (contrast of light and dark)

use of extreme realism , simple settings

depicts different state of minds

uses contemporary characters

The Conversion of St. Paul

by Caravaggio

1601

tenebrismo-brightly lit figures in the middle of the night

extreme contrasts of light and darkness

knocked off horse and had a vision of Christ.

depicts actual horse.

Judith and her Maidservant with the head of Holofernes

by Gentileschi

1625

inluenced by Caravaggio "tenebrismo"

women were no artists which makes this art rare

depicts story of Jewish widown Judith and her maid, who cut Assyrian general Holofernes' head off and saved the Jewish people from an attack.

artist shows instant after head is chopped off.

Allegory of Devine Providence

by De Cortona

1633

fresco in hall of Barberini Palace in Rome
Combines all  three illusionistic systems - quadratura (architectural framework), quadri riportati (side scenes), di sotto in su (settin our point of view).

glorifies the reign of Barberini pope Urban VIII.

Triumph of the Name of Jesus "Il Gesu"

by Battista Gaulli

1679

open ceiling illusion

white stucco 3d figures

guilded stucco

artist wants viewer to be confused, to experience own vision

Initials of Jesus are in the middle of the Light IHS

Catholics started focusing on individual personal experiences

Baldacchino

by Bernini

1633
a canopy placed above the tomb of St. Peter

four pillars with roof

10 story building height

serves as a focalizing element

twisting columns with bees and flowers

fusion of sculpture and architecture

The Ecstasy of St. Theresa

by Bernini

1652

fusion of architecture and sculpture

sculpted audience

depicts mystical vision of St theresa where an angel peierced her heart with a flaming golden arrow.

makes viewer experience own vision of levitation

Church of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane

by Borromini

1667

play of concave and convex surfaces makes the entire structure seem elastic

Chruch of Sant' Ivo

by Borromini

1642

based on a hexagonal star, represesnts Sapienza (wisdom)

The Maids of Honor

by Diego Velasquez

1656

painting is an expression of personal ambition, claim for both the nobility of the act of painting and that of artists himself.

presence of king and queen confirms his status.

uses tenebrismo, challenges viewer to compare the mirror image against the paintings on the same wall.

St. Serapion

by de Zurbaran

1628

depicts St. Serapion dead or close to dead

both a hero and martyr

exhausted looks make him appear noble

audience targeted would be monks

audience identifies with sanits strong faith rather than physical suffering.

artist interested in psychological response to painting

what you see vs what you know

ideal of the way one should be living life

The Raising of the Cross

by Rubens

1611

uses diagonals in space

depicts tension and struggle

uses space of viewer illusion (Jesus Crucified in our space and time)

Influenced by Caravaggio and Michealangelo

Jesus looks up to heaven in peace

Marie de Medici, Queen of France, Landing in Marsailles

by Rubens

1625

people in France disliked Marie de Medici

Rubens mythologizes her life; combines reality and allegory

story: Married King before meeting him,King Henry IV did not go to Marsailles to recieve her.

personafication of France in draped fleur-de-lis cape

personafication of Fame by angel blowing two trumpets

Rubens uses vuluptous female bodies

uses Greek mythology: Neptune  and Nereids rise from sea; having guarded the queens journey

Allegory of Sight

by Brueghel the Elder & Rubens

1617

depicts sense of sight; things viewer can see

Art collection seen is of the Habsburg archduke and archduchess; suggests wealth and splendor of court.

Still Life with Fruit and Flowers

by Clara Peeters

1612

displays flowers and fruits exporing variety of textures and containers.

coins suggest date of painting 1612.

knife depicted is used for wedding gift

Still life with Exotic Birds

by Davidz de Heem

1640

depicts sumptous commodities, foods, birds, and luxurious good from around the world.

defines elements of the new style of pronk still life.

Married Couple in a Garden

by Hals

1622

personality is portrayed through body language and facial expressions

combines relaxed informal atmosphere of genre painting with the individual likenesses and formal attire of portraiture.

The Night Watch

by Rembrandt

1642

use of tenbrismo and diagonals

makes the picture a virtouso perfomance filled with movement and lighting, help capture excitement of mement and provides unique sense of drama. 

Focus is on Cpt. Banning Cocq.

Self Potrait

by Rembrandt

1658

fixated with himself

paint is globbular, thickly put on

uses chiaroscuro to suggest mood

Woman Holding a Balance

by Vermeer

1664

painting is actually tiny in scale

very detailed

image of last judgement in back

depicts source of light penetrating into room

balance theme is a moralizing messege

suttle facial expression, ambigious

uses vanishing point to the left of the right pinky finger holding the balance.

The Death of Germanicus

by Poussin

1628

baroque classicism

use of diagonals

vertical architecture element suggests more space

introduction of concept of escapism

grieving women and children are separated from revenge swearing soldiers; promise of avenge set at center

baroque figures from antiguity (customs, poses, attire)

use of white offsets painting focuses

colors bring focus to the front of the painting

Landscape with St. John on Patmos

by Poussin

1640

went to Island on Potmos where St. John wrote book of Revelations due to visions

focuses more on landscape rather than St. John

use of colors draw eye to St. John

ancient buildings crumbling

antiguity dominates landscape

Portrait of Louis XIV

by Riguard

1701

depicts fiction of rule and power

absolutism

femenine but grand and imposing confident pose

painting expresses Louis's dominance and unequaled stature as the center of the French State.

Hall of Mirrors, Versailles

by Hardouin-Mansart

1678

extravagant details meant to reinforce majesty of both Louis's reign and of France.

mirrors were placed in such a way as to reflect the gardens outside, making room appear larger by day.

Facade of St.Paul's (London)

By Wren

1700

made in shape of Latin cross with huge domed crossing based on Michealangelo's plan of St. Peter's.

Dome rises high above main body of building and dominates facade.

architecture shows Wren's understanding and knowledge of French and Italian architecture.

A Pilgrimage to Cythera

by Watteau

1717

setting is island of Cythera, aka island of love, greek myth of birth of Venus. 

delicate colors suggest gentle nature of the lovers' relationships.

unclear whether the couples are arriving or leaving.

figures are slim, graceful, and small in scale

creates sense of nostalgia, with implications of longing and unrealized passion 

Gersaint's Signboard

by Watteau

1721

Created to advertise the wares of his friend and art dealer Gersaint.

natual, elegant poses of figures.

painting is balanced by two women on either side being assisted by staff.

clocks and mirrors create an atmosphere of opulence

The Swing

by Fragonard

1767

mystic bright atmosphere

audience knows more idea is shown by cupid holding a finger to his lips, suggesting the conspiracy in the erotic escapade

suggests a collusion in erotic fantasy between artist and patron.

He Revels (the orgy)

by Hogarth

1735

heavy handed morality tale

based on book where young Tom Rakewell spends his fortune on wine and women.

scene set in famous London brothel, The Rose Tavern.

The Assumption of the Virgin

by Asam

1723

taken to heaven body and soul

assumption means taken up to heaven by angels only Mary and John

uses plaster larger than life figures which are lighter and create more space it also allowed the use of wires 

Interior of "De Wies"

by Zimmermann

1757

interior design includes a combination of sculptural painted stucco decoration and painting

use of pasty colors depict Rococo era

oval shaped interior

The Death of General Wolfe

by West

1770

contemporary event

monumentalizes, intensifies scene

heroic death, modern day martyr or Christ

aggrandized and classicized controposto poses, facial expressions show theatrical element

secular glorification

setting realistic French and Indian War

Lady Sarah Bunbury Sacrificing to the Graces

by Reynolds

1765

uses ancient frescoes from Pompei and Herculina

height of neoclassissism

shes sacrificing to the Graces symbolizing harmony

dressed and surrounded by historical correct objects

use of symbolism: three figures symbolize the three states of friendship, interwined arms means exchange and nudity the openess between friends.

painting is also about platonic dedication of women to one another

Library, Kenwood, London

by Robert Adam

1769

ceiling of room is a Roman barrel vault

uses Corinthian columns

decoration is based on classical motifs

Library is calssical due to symmetrical, geometric, and careful balance.

filled with movement due to details and shapes that force eye to wonder around deisgn elements.

Festive, elegant, and refined tone is closer to Rococo than newoclassical morality.

The Nightmare

by Fuseli

1781

creature is Incubus, goes around raping women in their sleep

Introduces romantic era

meaning reamins of a puzzle, but main idea is that it explores the erotic depths of the human mind and shrugs off expectations of what painting is supposed to be about.

Oath of Horatii

by Jacques Louis David

1784

setting is in stark ancient Roman world

reaction against Rococo and the Nightmare

tudoric columns

swearing on swords to defend fatherland

Immitates "death of Germanicus" by seperating women and soldiers.

women weak vs men strong

filled with undercurrents of Romanticism

uses harsh light that cast precise shadows (caravaggio)

The Death of Marat

by Jacques Louis David

1793

Marat had a skin disease which kept him in a bathtub

murdered by young women

used as political propaganda references

compared to Pieta

idealization of Murat

realism, sharp lighting used