2. Art History II, 1304, 12-Week Session
3. Essay #1
Section 1: DESCRIPTION
Part 1 of The Videotape #3 entitled The Early Renaissance Italy; depicts the Masaccio’s Holy Trinity (1425-1427).
This work of art is painted in fresco in the Dominican Church of Santa Maria Novella, in Florence, Italy.
This is one of the first paintings to depict deep space, uses one-point linear perspective to create a “tromp l’oeil” (French for "deceive the eye" ) or an effect that fools the eye.
It uses the architecture of the church in conjunction with the painted architecture to seamlessly lead the eye of the viewer over the piece.
The painting depicts the Son Jesus Christ on the cross, the Father behind him and the dove between them representing the Holy Spirit, therefore, showing the whole Holy Trinity.
Mary and John, along with two patron figures are also shown at the sides of the painting. These patron figures are depicted in worship, in order to elevate the political and religious status of Masaccio’s patrons. It also shows an engraved tomb at the foot of the fresco.
This kind of iconography is well precedented in early renaissance painting and the religious depictions are fairly commonplace.
The technique of the fresco is more inclined towards the accurate depiction of space (going so far as to depict previously flattened halos as rounded disks in space) and less concerned in the accurate rendering of detail. Over all, the piece uses a muted and simplified color palette.
Part 2 of Video Tape #3, shows Fra Angelico’s The Annunciation (1438-1435).
This piece of art also belongs to the Early Italian Renaissance; it is presently located at The Diocesan Museum in Cortona, Tuscany, Italy. It was painted in tempera on panel, for an altarpiece.
The painting depicts the scene of the annunciation to Mary by the archangel Gabriel; it uses standard religious Christian iconography such as the fenced garden in the background which evokes Adam and