Western Art History Study Guide
Mannerism (1527-1600) * Confusing * Counterpart to High Renaissance Southern Italy * “…stylish style…” – John Sherman * Started in central Rome * Catholic church started to take problem with it
Jacopo da Pontormo – Deposition
* 1527 * Original Context: Commissioned for Capponi private chapel in Florence (Santa Felcita) * Materials: Oil on panel (unusual for Southern Italian art) * Other unusual things: * Jesus isn’t the center of the painting (VOID – Empty space) * Anatomy was thrown out the window * Unsettling (Arm fades from hot pink to pale white) * Skin tight clothing * Missing cross (Deposition), but has a weird fluffy cloud * Emulated source: Pieta by Michelangelo (Pontormo greatly admired Michelangelo) * Painting is supposed to depict the moment after the Pieta * Artist painted himself in the top left corner, staring directly at the audience * Patron had to have requested the confusion of the painting
Bronzino – Portrait of a Young Man
* Bronzino was taken in by the Medici family * 1540 * Courtly grace * Materials: Oil on panel * Patron: Someone rich (Only elite could afford portraits of themselves and spend the time to pose for it) * 3 feet x 2 ½ feet * Half length, ¾ profile * Unusual things: * The space doesn’t make sense * Color choices (Purple and yellow are complementary colors) * Probably got the pose/essence of the painting from Courier * Worm’s eye perspective (We are viewing from below)
Bronzino – Martyrdom of Saint Lawrence
* C. 1570 * Original Context: Wall in San Lerenzo (Medici sponsored church) * Materials: fresco * Décor (San Lerenzo = Saint Lawrence) * Subject matter: Chaos, title explains it all; St. Lawrence was literally burned on a grill * Emulated source/icon: Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel * Unusual things: * Background is not centered * Angels
Jacopo da Pontormo – Deposition
* 1527 * Original Context: Commissioned for Capponi private chapel in Florence (Santa Felcita) * Materials: Oil on panel (unusual for Southern Italian art) * Other unusual things: * Jesus isn’t the center of the painting (VOID – Empty space) * Anatomy was thrown out the window * Unsettling (Arm fades from hot pink to pale white) * Skin tight clothing * Missing cross (Deposition), but has a weird fluffy cloud * Emulated source: Pieta by Michelangelo (Pontormo greatly admired Michelangelo) * Painting is supposed to depict the moment after the Pieta * Artist painted himself in the top left corner, staring directly at the audience * Patron had to have requested the confusion of the painting
Bronzino – Portrait of a Young Man
* Bronzino was taken in by the Medici family * 1540 * Courtly grace * Materials: Oil on panel * Patron: Someone rich (Only elite could afford portraits of themselves and spend the time to pose for it) * 3 feet x 2 ½ feet * Half length, ¾ profile * Unusual things: * The space doesn’t make sense * Color choices (Purple and yellow are complementary colors) * Probably got the pose/essence of the painting from Courier * Worm’s eye perspective (We are viewing from below)
Bronzino – Martyrdom of Saint Lawrence
* C. 1570 * Original Context: Wall in San Lerenzo (Medici sponsored church) * Materials: fresco * Décor (San Lerenzo = Saint Lawrence) * Subject matter: Chaos, title explains it all; St. Lawrence was literally burned on a grill * Emulated source/icon: Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel * Unusual things: * Background is not centered * Angels