Masaccio s Holy Trinity
Masaccio’s Holy Trinity
HUM – 104
Linda Igielski
Frank Demos
January 26,2014
Painter Tommaso de Ser Giovanni, born in 1401 and soon died at the age of 26 years old with the nickname of Masaccio, was commissioned to work on the Brancacci Chapel in
Florence, Italy in 1425. One his famous works was “The Holy Trinity.” Masaccio painted this extraordinary fresco right before he left for Rome in 1426. The painted fresco reached 22 feet high and depicts a classical Roman architectural setting, none of which you see is real architecture but is all painted. The Trinity is a three in one story of God. God the Father, the Son who emanates from God, and the Holy Spirit which is represented by the dove and which emanates from the Father and the Son. The first thing that is noticed is a chapel that is above a tomb. The tomb is at ground level and the first thing that you see is a skeleton in it with an inscription that reads “What you are I once was, what I am, you will be.” (Harris & Zucker,
2012). Everything in the painting is directed by a perspective system. Above the tomb, on an illusionistic platform, are two kneeling figures outside of this architectural chapel which has been created. From outside the chapel, there are two pilasters with fluting and Corinthian capitals on top holding an architrave with columns with iconic capitals and a red arch and within that a coffered barrel vault. The two kneeling figures outside the chapel are in pure profile and are portraits. The space within is irrational and rational space that contains the Virgin Mary and St.
John both of whom are beside the cross with Christ on it. John is looking up at the body of Christ whereas Mary is looking at us while gesturing toward the body. Then there is the cross itself arising from a little hill and ending at Calvary. God the Father is behind the cross. His feet are seen standing on a platform which is at the back of this space and the space is measurable
HUM – 104
Linda Igielski
Frank Demos
January 26,2014
Painter Tommaso de Ser Giovanni, born in 1401 and soon died at the age of 26 years old with the nickname of Masaccio, was commissioned to work on the Brancacci Chapel in
Florence, Italy in 1425. One his famous works was “The Holy Trinity.” Masaccio painted this extraordinary fresco right before he left for Rome in 1426. The painted fresco reached 22 feet high and depicts a classical Roman architectural setting, none of which you see is real architecture but is all painted. The Trinity is a three in one story of God. God the Father, the Son who emanates from God, and the Holy Spirit which is represented by the dove and which emanates from the Father and the Son. The first thing that is noticed is a chapel that is above a tomb. The tomb is at ground level and the first thing that you see is a skeleton in it with an inscription that reads “What you are I once was, what I am, you will be.” (Harris & Zucker,
2012). Everything in the painting is directed by a perspective system. Above the tomb, on an illusionistic platform, are two kneeling figures outside of this architectural chapel which has been created. From outside the chapel, there are two pilasters with fluting and Corinthian capitals on top holding an architrave with columns with iconic capitals and a red arch and within that a coffered barrel vault. The two kneeling figures outside the chapel are in pure profile and are portraits. The space within is irrational and rational space that contains the Virgin Mary and St.
John both of whom are beside the cross with Christ on it. John is looking up at the body of Christ whereas Mary is looking at us while gesturing toward the body. Then there is the cross itself arising from a little hill and ending at Calvary. God the Father is behind the cross. His feet are seen standing on a platform which is at the back of this space and the space is measurable
References: Kloss, W. (2011, October 5). Masaccio and early renaissance painting [Lecture 13, Module 3]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEesixnszkI