Italy in the 13th and 14th centuries We will call this time period Late Gothic or Italian Gothic
Where’s the power? Where’s the money? Leading merchant families in trade, manufacturing and banking. These families were the patrons of art. Florence Venice Pisa Siena
Holy Roman Empire Voltaire (French philosopher) said that the “agglomeration” which was and is still called the Holy Roman Empire was neither holy, nor Roman not an empire. None the less, it was “ruled” by an emperor. The ruler was often German during the Middle Ages.
Francesco Petrarch churchman, scholar and poet He belonged to a generation of thinkers wo believed in the study of the ancients for moral clarity and models of behavior. Humanism (planting the seeds for the birth of a renaissance)
Abbey Church of Fossanova, Italy, 1208 The Cistercian plan Simple, unadorned No ribs Octagonal tower
Abbey Church Fossanova Franciscan and Dominican monastic orders These monks don’t retreat Minister to lay population Preach to reach crowds Images are helpful to mission
Basilica of San Francesco, Assisi, Italy, 1228 Highly decorated Frescos of St. Francis’ (simple) life Also Old and New Testament themes Plenty of ribs
Fresco is an art process of painting into wet plaster with water based paint. When both dry, they have permanently integrated. Saint Francis Preaching to the Birds, 1290 In Basilica of San Francesco Birds are all turned in rapt attention Companion cannot believe her eyes
Franciscan women Worship God as nuns in convents Saint Clare was an associate of St. Francis. She founded the Order of St. Clare (for nuns)
Altarpiece of Saint Clare 1280 Tempera on panel 9’x5’ How Byzantine is this? Surrounded by tiny narratives of her life
Italian churches in cities Santa Croce
Santa Croce (Holy Cross) Florence, Italy, begun 1295
Interior Santa Croce Nave arcade of pointed arches Wide vs. tall Trussed open, flat ceiling. Why? Michelangelo is buried here J441
Santa croce
Santa Croce Florence
Monumental pulpits Nicola Pisano, Pisa Baptistry
Pulpit in Pisa Baptistry Nicola Pisano J443 Hexagonal Pisano father(Nicola) and son (Giovanni), sculptors in Pisa and other cities Pulpit in Pisa Baptistry Nicola Pisano J443 Hexagonal Colored marble classical columns Scalloped arches Sculpted panels, figures signify virtues Spandrels have relief prophets
Fortitude, by Nicola Pisano Represents Greek god, Hercules Hero and symbol of Christian virtue of Fortitude Figure holds lion cub and skin of adult lion. One of his twelve labors On a spandrel
The Nativity Nicola Pisano (father) Giovanni Pisano (son)
Compare Nicola These are both crowded.
Nicola Pisano (father) Angel Gabriel Baby Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes Joseph watching Two women wash baby in basin Combination of annunciation and nativity
Giovanni Pisano (son) 50 years later, same theme, same church Outdoor scene Deeper cuts cast shadows Audience is of animals and trees and angels
Florence Cathedral Duomo San Giovanni All of those names apply. Arnolfo di Cambia, artist , engineer, architect. Statement of the rich city of Florence. Huge dome Campanile is separate. Compare with J445
Florence Cathedral, Duomo (dome) and San Giovianni (St. John) High nave arcade Ribbed groin vaults St. John the Baptist J 446 Huge octagonal dome
Florence Cathedral Baptistry 11th c. Campanile, designed by Giotto, has 2 feet separation Duomo finished 100 years later
Florence Cathedral floor plan 3 apses, huge octagonal dome, no towers on the building.
Baptistry bronze doors, gilded . Designed by Andrea da Pisano (no kin) . Installed in 1336 . 28 panels depict the life of John the Baptist who is the cathedral’s patron. . Each panel story in quatrefoil with ground line
John is baptizing Jesus Pisano bronze doors John is baptizing Jesus River Jordan water ripples cover legs Angel nearby Gold over bronze Dove (Holy Spirit) J 448
Palazzo Vecchio Palazzo della Signoria In central Florence. Civic pride. Solid first two floors (high windows, two doors). Tall tower to be seen from afar. Battlements (turrets) on top. Copy of David by door.
Palazzo Vecchio
Two political factions. Holy Roman Empire which was composed of the aristocratic families and the emperor.
Merchant (pro-papal) faction
Painting in Tuscany Trading between Venice and the Byzantine Empire influence. Madonna Enthroned by Cimabue, 1280-1290 12’x7’, J 449 Tempera on panel with wood inlay In the “Greek Manner” Cimabue is Giotto’s teacher
Madonna Enthroned by Giotto Influences: Pisanos and byzantine art 1310 tempera/p J449 Gold background Eyes on them Modeling Throne: gothic architecture
Chapel built by banker, Enrico Scrovegni. Called Arena Chapel built by banker, Enrico Scrovegni. Called Arena. Near Roman Arena in Padua, Italy 1305-1306 Barrel vault. Fresco over the entire surface. Blue with gold stars. Life of Christ in 3 registers. Annunciation to Last Judgement J 450
Palm Sunday (path covered with palms) Christ Entering Jerusalem, Giotto, 1305, fresco, Arena Figures are modeled to appear 3-D. Placed at our eye level.
Christ Entering Jerusalem, Giotto Group of Apostles. Upward slope of welcomers. Christ bridges the two groups.
(Detail, Christ Entry) Fresco surface changes. Only landscape indicated.
Mourners with and w/o halos. Mary at Christ’s head Lamentation (Over Christ), 1305, fresco, Arena Chapel, Padua, Italy, J 451 Mourners with and w/o halos. Mary at Christ’s head Mary Magdeleine at his feet. Hovering angels in distress.
See how the fresco was applied over days? Wall line pulls your eye to Jesus. Action in bottom half. What with the tree?
Giotto is all the rage! Dante wrote “Once Cimabue was thought to hold the field as painter, Giotto now is all the rage, dimming the luster of the other’s fame.”
Giotto is really big!
1. Greco Roman changed art forever! 3. … it was never the same after Picasso! 2. Change came to all of the Renaissance artists who traveled up to see the Giotto frescos in the Arena Chapel.
Siena vs. Florence In … Military Economic Cultural Siena took the Virgin Mary as their patron saint. Dedicated the cathedral to her.
Siena Cathedral completed 1284 Compound piers Vaulted ceiling
Pointed gables over tympana Siena Cathedral Pointed gables over tympana 3 portals Giovanni Pisano design and sculpture
Virgin and Child by Duccio 1300, tempera, gold on panel Tender relationship. Modeling. Mary usually is in blue. Still Siena is “in the Greek manner” with the gold.
Madonna Enthroned, center of the Maesta’ Altarpiece, 1308-1311, tempera on panel
“Holy Mother of God, be the cause of peace to Siena and of life to Duccio because he has painted you thus.”
Mary is central and largest, wearing blue against gold. All gaze at her. Drapery is soft and fluid. Faces are individual. Figures are naturalistic. Communicate with glances. J 454
Somebody is wearing a hair shirt.
Annunciation of the Death of the Virgin, by Duccio, J455, front of Maesta’ Altar
Duccio, from the Maesta’ Altar Gabriel returns to warn Mary of her impending death. Duccio, from the Maesta’ Altar Architectural interior is a new pictorial device. Two spaces but each is isolated. Vanishing lines find many vanishing points. No no. We still don’t get it.
Awkward arch, wall and door Christ Entering Jerusalem, Duccio, back of Maesta’ Altar, J 456, 40”x20”, tempera/panel 1308-1311 Crowd left with halos Crowd right at entry All in same scale Awkward arch, wall and door
Annunciation, Simone Martini, 1330, tempera/p J 457 “Ave Maria Gratia Plenum Dominus Tecum” means “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.” Mary is surprised and pulls away. Doves of the Holy Spirit are awaiting her decision. Two local patrons on the sides. Real frame, recently restored, pointed arch cusp.
Lorenzetti Brothers, Pietro and Ambrogio Birth of the Virgin 1342, 6’x6’tempera/panel J 448 Siena Cathedral Pietro
Birth of the Virgin Pietro Lorenzetti Triptych. Architectural setting. Joachim, Mary’s father. Saint Anne (mother) in bed. Separated sexes. Mid-wives. Some real, some painted architecture.
The Allegory of Good Government, … in the City, …in the Country The Allegory of Good Government, … in the City, …in the Country. Ambrogio Lorenzetti, in the Palazzo Pubblico (Siena City Hall), 1338-1340 J 459
Palazzo Pubblico, Siena Italy
Throned figures: Justice/Wisdom and Good/Virtue. 24 Judiciary figures Depicts a well-ordered city-state. Bustling crowd.
Beyond the pink wall, security, prosperity.
The Triumph of Death, anonymous, fresco, Pisa 1325-1350, J 461
Black Plague Elegantly dressed happen upon 3 decaying bodies in coffins Lorenzetti brothers perished from plague
Way to Salvation, Andrea da Firenze, 1365-67, 38 feet wide, Santa Maria Novella, Florence Fresco in Dominican church. Shows actions of monks to assure your access to heaven. Unfinished Florence Cathedral
Middle: St Peter at the gate Aristocrats enjoy sensual pleasures Dominican monk show path
Northern Italy Venice and Milan Doge elected by the merchants organizations. Doge’s Palace, 1340, Venice. No defensive architectural features.
Doge’s Palace Diamond patterned stonework Guatrefoils Covered passageway around the building
Milan Cathedral
High Gothic took 100 years to complete. The government of Milan is in the hands of a single aristocratic family, the Visconti family.
NEXT … THE ELEGANT INTERNATIONAL Gothic Style