Palace of Versailles, King Louis XIV, Mid 17th century Classical Mode of Sculpture/Monument: Changes in Value and Meaning through Ages

Rodin, Balzac in 1891 Rodin received a commission for a monument to Balzac in 1891 from the Société des Gens de Lettres. After seven years' preparation by reading the author's works, by studying his biography (attempting to understand the personality and psychology of this literary genius), and by executing about 50 studies, Rodin exhibited a model of the work in the Salon of 1898. Not only did the Société reject the work, but it received extraordinary controversy in the press. Criticism centered on the fact that Rodin's treatment of a famous person did not follow the formula for aggrandizing the subject and on the lack of a finished surface, so important in academic sculptural style. Views of Balzac Although Balzac did wear the famous robe while working, the lack of emphasis on his body focusses attention on his face and the unruly shock of hair. Rodin attempts to convey Balzac's genius by depicting the deep-set visionary eyes.

Rodin, The Burghers of Calais in 1889 The Burghers of Calais (Les Bourgeois de Calais) is one of the most famous sculptures by Auguste Rodin, completed in 1889. It serves as a monument to an occurrence in 1347 during the Hundred Years' War, when Calais, an important French port on the English Channel, was under siege by the English for over a year. The story goes that England's Edward III, after a victory in the Battle of Crécy, laid siege to Calais, while Philip VI of France ordered the city to hold out at all costs. Philip failed to lift the siege, and starvation eventually forced the city to parley for surrender. Edward offered to spare the people of the city if any six of its top leaders would surrender themselves to him, presumably to be executed. Edward demanded that they walk out almost naked, wearing nooses around their necks, and carrying the keys to the city and castle. One of the wealthiest of the town leaders, Eustache de Saint Pierre, volunteered first, and five other burghers soon followed suit, stripping down to their breeches. Saint Pierre led this envoy of emaciated volunteers to the city gates. It was this moment, and this poignant mix of defeat, heroic self-sacrifice, and willingness to face imminent death that Rodin captured in his sculpture, scaled somewhat larger than life. In history, though the burghers expected to be executed, their lives were spared by the intervention of England's Queen,

Gustave Courbet - Stone Breakers, 1849

Edouard Manet - A Bar at the Follies-Bergere 1882

Jan van Eyck Giovanni Arnolfini and His Bride, 1434

Eugene Delacroix - Death of Sardanapalus, 1827

Jacues-Louis David - Bonaparte Crossing the. Bennard Pass, 1801

William de Kooning - Woman V, 1952-53

Edouard Manet - A Bar at the Follies-Bergere 1882

Tiatian - Pieta (Pity) 1576

Observation Describe what you notice or see in the work of art? list specific visual details that give clues about the neighborhood, the people, and the artist's life "people standing closely together"; "musical instruments"; "facial expressions"; "clothing is not fancy"; "country house"; "position of the figures"; "city buildings"; smoke stacks"; "pets"; "flat shapes"; "bright colors"; different sizes.")

Barnet Newman

Subject matter? Childhood Memories Images of people throughout his life. Rich narrative details about Black community life-public and private. Ability to unify mixed media through experimentation and utilizing universal themes