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awesomesteveny-blog · 5 years ago

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Virtual Sketchbook 3

https://emuseum.ringling.org/emuseum/objects/21946/assumption-of-the-virgin;jsessionid=6505CA48B5B673C1ADCE4F9CB5682C81?ctx=7f36e5e5-ceb6-4fcf-8b09-0ba8b302e41a&idx=0

The painting entitled “The Assumption of the Virgin” by Francesco Granacci, is an oil painting that measures 90 inches by 81 inches and was done in 1515 (“THE ASUMPTION”). This painting contains a wide color palette from red and blue, all the way to dark green and black. There are some very clear shapes such as the circle behind the Virgin Mary and the grey rectangular structure that St. Thomas is kneeling on as well as the grey rectangular tomb holding plants that is behind St. Thomas and below the Virgin Mary. In the painting are depicted the Virgin Mary whom is center in the painting and floating above the other individuals, and is surrounded by angels that are of a yellow glow (“THE ASUMPTION”). The Virgin Mary is handing her belt over to Saint Thomas whom is kneeling below her, and to Thomas’s right are Saint John holding a cross, and Saint James (“THE ASUMPTION”). On the Virgin Mary’s left and closest to her is Saint Laurence whom according to tradition, was burned alive on a gridiron that is seen next to him, for not handing over the church’s treasures to the Roman Prefect, claiming that the treasure was for the poor (“THE ASUMPTION”). To the left of Saint Laurence is pictured Saint Bartholomew whom was flayed alive and then crucified by heathens while preaching in India and is seen holding a filet knife under the book he is holding (“THE ASUMPTION”). The work is balanced with the focal point of the Virgin Mary in the middle with two angels and two Saints on either side of her. There is much contrast with the Virgin Mary’s face being very pale against her dark clothing along with the yellow back of her throne against her dark clothing. Many directional forces can be seen with almost everyone in the painting looking at the focal point whom is the Virgin Mary.

This painting makes me feel a sense of awe as all the subjects excluding the angels and the Virgin Mary, were martyred and in gruesome ways (“THE ASUMPTION”). It is fitting that everyone whom is either already dead or will be killed, are pictured at a tomb. This painting also makes me feel sad as these people were murdered for their faith and still people today are killed for their faith and there are wars fought over ideals. This painting is however not supposed to be accurate in regard to events because Saint Laurence and Saint Bartholomew were not alive when the Virgin Mary died and so would not have been at the assumption of the virgin and this can feel confusing at first.

Granacci was an Italian artist that worked mainly around Florence, Italy and the Assumption of the Virgin was a very big deal in that area because the belt that the Virgin Mary gave to Saint Thomas, was supposedly held in a chapel in Prato, Italy right next to Florence (“THE ASUMPTION”). This work was commissioned for the family chapel of the Medici whom were Florence’s most powerful and wealthy group in the church of San Piero Maggiore, Florence (“Assumption of”). What this work says about the painter is that Granacci was proud of where he lived and the history of the area and wanted to do his best on a painting about a subject that the area was well known for in regards to holding the belt of the Virgin Mary. What I think the artist was trying to say is that we should not be afraid of death and I think the artist did a good job of displaying this as all the people in the painting had a calm face and did not show any fear or sadness. This work is from the Renaissance period and the scene depicted in this piece, was a common one done in many other paintings at that time.

In conclusion, based on my research of art and artists, I believe that this painting is of high importance to society and the world because of how excellent of an example it is of art during the Renaissance period. It contains many of the elements from the Renaissance period such as three-dimensional figures, linear perspective with the countryside in the background, and foreshortening with the tomb appearing very close to the viewer. Granacci studied with Michelangelo and Giorgio Vasari whom was an art critic at that time is noted saying that the Virgin Mary and Saint Thomas depicted in the painting, could have been done by Michelangelo, it was that good (“Assumption of”). Religious paintings of this subject matter, were common at this time and so this painting really does exemplify art during the Renaissance.

References

“Assumption of the Virgin.” EMuseum.ringling, emuseum.ringling.org/emuseum/objects/21946/assumption-of-the-virgin;jsessionid=6505CA48B5B673C1ADCE4F9CB5682C81?ctx=7f36e5e5-ceb6-4fcf-8b09-0ba8b302e41a&idx=0.

“THE ASUMPTION OF THE VIRGIN.” Ringlingdocents, ringlingdocents.org/pages/granacci.htm.

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awesomesteveny-blog · 5 years ago

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VIRTUAL SKETCHBOOK #2

Journaling: Principles of Design

“Circulo de Vida” by Jade Leyva.

https://www.abqjournal.com/1342675/artist-focuses-on-love-unity-and-mother-earth.html

Unity is when there is a close comparison, parallel, and or resemblance within a work (Frank & Preble 2019). The “Circulo de Vida” by Jade Leyva is an example of unity with the similarly painted flowers, corn husks, and what appears to be kidney beans.