Giotto Representation Of Christ Analysis

Giotto revolutionized painting techniques in many ways, though primarily through placing significant importance in the “realness” of art. He observed humans and their form closely and reproduced their gestures, movements, and expressions in his work. To achieve this realism, Giotto utilized a combination of techniques in his paintings, including lines, color, light, shading, and tight brush strokes. He made outstanding use of space, using horizontal, diagonal, and vertical lines, frequently in the arrangement of celestial beams and geography, to draw attention to the dominant focus of his work and to provide a sense of involvement to his viewers. This technique is clearly displayed in his painting of the Lamentation of Christ, found in the
Giotto painted the world as it is seen, using natural colors, such as blue for skies, which helped him demonstrate earthly setting, in lieu of the typical sacred-looking setting adorned with gold and other “heavenly” colors favored by artists of Greek and Byzantine styles. Additionally, he frequently incorporated striking colors of greens, yellows, and reds to convey emotion, something uncommon during this period, thus aiding in his separation from the standard use of dull, non-descriptive details of traditional styles. Raising of Lazarus, as seen in figure 18-8 of Art History: Volume 1, provides clear evidence of this technique, which can be seen in every element of this painting. Earthly elements are depicted with natural colors and tones, emphasizing the sense of realism, and the deep, bold colors of Jesus' robes sets him apart majestically. The participants of this scene are crowned with yellow halos, providing a sense of freshness, joy, and holiness towards Lazarus' rising, who possesses a greyish pale tone, symbolizing decay, yet has a slight hint of color, suggesting his revival. In addition to his use of color, Giotto gave life and three-dimensionalism to his subjects by manipulating the effects of lighting and shading in a variety of ways, which helped him draw attention to the human form. This furthered the recognition he received from his contemporaries and separated him from traditional styles even