Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Friday, October 12, 2007
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Girl With A Pearl Earring
1. What are your general impressions of the film?
Girl With a Pearl Earring was a very informative film regardless of the fact that it was not completely historically accurate. The film gave me a lot of insight into the painting techniques used by Vermeer and other artists in that time period. It was also interesting to see the artistic process that went into the paintings. Because I have read the book Girl With a Pearl Earring I immediately judge the film by its difference between the book.
2. How do certain scenes/ elements of the film exemplify what we’ve learned so far about the Northern Renaissance in the Low Countries?
Artists in the Low Countries during the Northern Renaissance used common everyday objects in their paintings. The scene in Girl with a Pearl Earring when Grete moves the chair out of the set in Vermeer’s studio captures how Vermeer used common every day objects in his paintings. Also, artists in the Low Countries used oil paint as the medium for their paintings. One of Grete’s daily tasks was to make oil paint for Vermeer.
3. Do any particular properties that we’ve discussed in conjunction with the art we’ve seen thus far jump out at you in the film? How and what effects do they have on the film and on your impression of Vermeer’s artwork?
Vermeer used the medium of oil painting to his advantage. Vermeer’s use of color was very bright and bold due to the oil paint. In Girl With a Pearl Earring, Grete wears a blue and yellow scarf which makes her presence in the painting very striking and it contrasts with the dark black background. The black background makes Grete stand out as the main focal point in the painting. Grete’s head scarf makes the person viewing the painting think and question what is underneath the scarf.
Girl With a Pearl Earring was a very informative film regardless of the fact that it was not completely historically accurate. The film gave me a lot of insight into the painting techniques used by Vermeer and other artists in that time period. It was also interesting to see the artistic process that went into the paintings. Because I have read the book Girl With a Pearl Earring I immediately judge the film by its difference between the book.
2. How do certain scenes/ elements of the film exemplify what we’ve learned so far about the Northern Renaissance in the Low Countries?
Artists in the Low Countries during the Northern Renaissance used common everyday objects in their paintings. The scene in Girl with a Pearl Earring when Grete moves the chair out of the set in Vermeer’s studio captures how Vermeer used common every day objects in his paintings. Also, artists in the Low Countries used oil paint as the medium for their paintings. One of Grete’s daily tasks was to make oil paint for Vermeer.
3. Do any particular properties that we’ve discussed in conjunction with the art we’ve seen thus far jump out at you in the film? How and what effects do they have on the film and on your impression of Vermeer’s artwork?
Vermeer used the medium of oil painting to his advantage. Vermeer’s use of color was very bright and bold due to the oil paint. In Girl With a Pearl Earring, Grete wears a blue and yellow scarf which makes her presence in the painting very striking and it contrasts with the dark black background. The black background makes Grete stand out as the main focal point in the painting. Grete’s head scarf makes the person viewing the painting think and question what is underneath the scarf.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Northern Renaissance Questions
1. Describe three differences between Renaissance painting of Northern Europe and that of Italy.
Renaissance paintings done in Northern Europe differed greatly from the renaissance paintings of Italy. Paintings in Northern Europe were mostly based around the use of everyday objects. But the objects were used in a particular manner that enhanced the subject matter which was mostly based on religion. In Northern Europe the medium was mostly oil paint. With the medium oil paint, Northern European Renaissance artists were able to expand the use of light and color. The innovation of oil paint also led to Northern European artists being able to pay close attention to detail where some Italian Renaissance artists could not. In Italy and Northern Europe paintings were centered on religious subjects. But in Italy ancient Romans and Greeks were reflected in their paintings as well as math, science, and linear perspective.
3. Discuss how the paintings of Bruegal and Bosch are alike.
The work of Pieter Bruegal and Hieronymous Bosch share similar characteristics mostly because Bruegal was inspired by Bosch. Both artists were very innovative and different from other artists in the Northern European Renaissance. Shown in Boschs’ Garden of Delights and Bruegals The Tower of Babel is a pessimistic and negative view on the world. In Garden of Delights it is shown that there are no prospects of salvation. In The Tower of Babel, Bruegal emphasizes the size of the tower and the work process that will lead to failure. Bosch and Bruegal both painted very small figures with similar shapes.
3. Compare El Escorial with an Italian Renaissance building you have studied.
El Escorial in Spain is very different from the Villa Capra in Italy. Andrea Palladio, the architect of the Villa Capra, uses classical forms like the flat dome, central floor plan, ionic columns, pediments, and arches in his design. El Escorial is built in a square grid with the church in the center. El Escorial is very stark and simple compared to Villa Capra. Villa Capra has large columns and porches on the outer façade which makes it intimidating and beautiful building that is daunting like El Escorial. El Escorial’s outer façade is simple with very little embellishments. This makes El Escorial seem unapproachable and daunting.
Renaissance paintings done in Northern Europe differed greatly from the renaissance paintings of Italy. Paintings in Northern Europe were mostly based around the use of everyday objects. But the objects were used in a particular manner that enhanced the subject matter which was mostly based on religion. In Northern Europe the medium was mostly oil paint. With the medium oil paint, Northern European Renaissance artists were able to expand the use of light and color. The innovation of oil paint also led to Northern European artists being able to pay close attention to detail where some Italian Renaissance artists could not. In Italy and Northern Europe paintings were centered on religious subjects. But in Italy ancient Romans and Greeks were reflected in their paintings as well as math, science, and linear perspective.
3. Discuss how the paintings of Bruegal and Bosch are alike.
The work of Pieter Bruegal and Hieronymous Bosch share similar characteristics mostly because Bruegal was inspired by Bosch. Both artists were very innovative and different from other artists in the Northern European Renaissance. Shown in Boschs’ Garden of Delights and Bruegals The Tower of Babel is a pessimistic and negative view on the world. In Garden of Delights it is shown that there are no prospects of salvation. In The Tower of Babel, Bruegal emphasizes the size of the tower and the work process that will lead to failure. Bosch and Bruegal both painted very small figures with similar shapes.
3. Compare El Escorial with an Italian Renaissance building you have studied.
El Escorial in Spain is very different from the Villa Capra in Italy. Andrea Palladio, the architect of the Villa Capra, uses classical forms like the flat dome, central floor plan, ionic columns, pediments, and arches in his design. El Escorial is built in a square grid with the church in the center. El Escorial is very stark and simple compared to Villa Capra. Villa Capra has large columns and porches on the outer façade which makes it intimidating and beautiful building that is daunting like El Escorial. El Escorial’s outer façade is simple with very little embellishments. This makes El Escorial seem unapproachable and daunting.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Ch. 10 Review Questions
1. Describe three differences between Renaissance painting of Northern Europe and that of Italy. One difference between the Renaissance paintings of Northern Europe and that of Italy was the development of oil paint. Oil paint allowed artists of the North to paint more detailed paintings. This new type of paint allowed more colors and values to develop for artists. The paintings of the Northern Renaissance use light more realistically than those of Italy due to the development of oil paint. Oil paint allowed Northern paintings to be more detailed and more realistic because the paint let the lines be more precise. Northern Renaissance artists incorporated everyday objects into their paintings. Compared to the Italian Renaissance, the Northern Renaissance painters would use everyday objects as symbols. Italian painters would use classical objects that emphasized the idea of a “rebirth” of classical thought. The Northern Renaissance seemed to emphasize less about classical Greek and Roman thought. Instead, it seemed as though they used their own culture and incorporated it into their paintings. In Northern Renaissance paintings, there are little ideas about Greek and Roman thought.
3. Discuss how the paintings of Bruegel and Bosch are alike. The paintings of Bruegel and Bosch are alike because both painters include tons of people in their paintings. Both of their paintings are very busy and very detailed. I find that you could look at Bruegel and Bosch’s paintings for a very long time, and find new objects the more you look. Pieter Bruegel’s painting The Tower of Babel is similar to Bosch’s painting Garden of Delights because both are filled with people and detail. Bruegel has less people, but it is still extremely detailed. In Bruegel’s painting The Return of the Hunters, there are also many figures in the foreground and in the background. Both paintings seem to go far into the distance, creating a lot of depth, which makes both painters use a lot of detail.
3. Compare El Escorial with an Italian Renaissance building you have studied. El Escorial and the Duomo, designed by Brunelleschi, are two different buildings. El Escorial was designed during in the Northern Renaissance in Spain, while the Duomo was designed during the Italian Renaissance. El Escorial is a palace along with a church. The church has a dome in the middle of the huge building. El Escorial is a massive building. It gives off the feeling of gloominess and plainness. There seems to be no happiness coming from the building. The color and the mass of the building make the viewer feel unwelcome. The dome in El Escorial gives off the same message. It seems gloomy and overbearing because of the height. The Duomo is gives off a different feeling to the viewer. This dome is more inviting, even though the size of it is massive. The warm orangey/red color of the roof makes this dome less overpowering and more inviting.
3. Discuss how the paintings of Bruegel and Bosch are alike. The paintings of Bruegel and Bosch are alike because both painters include tons of people in their paintings. Both of their paintings are very busy and very detailed. I find that you could look at Bruegel and Bosch’s paintings for a very long time, and find new objects the more you look. Pieter Bruegel’s painting The Tower of Babel is similar to Bosch’s painting Garden of Delights because both are filled with people and detail. Bruegel has less people, but it is still extremely detailed. In Bruegel’s painting The Return of the Hunters, there are also many figures in the foreground and in the background. Both paintings seem to go far into the distance, creating a lot of depth, which makes both painters use a lot of detail.
3. Compare El Escorial with an Italian Renaissance building you have studied. El Escorial and the Duomo, designed by Brunelleschi, are two different buildings. El Escorial was designed during in the Northern Renaissance in Spain, while the Duomo was designed during the Italian Renaissance. El Escorial is a palace along with a church. The church has a dome in the middle of the huge building. El Escorial is a massive building. It gives off the feeling of gloominess and plainness. There seems to be no happiness coming from the building. The color and the mass of the building make the viewer feel unwelcome. The dome in El Escorial gives off the same message. It seems gloomy and overbearing because of the height. The Duomo is gives off a different feeling to the viewer. This dome is more inviting, even though the size of it is massive. The warm orangey/red color of the roof makes this dome less overpowering and more inviting.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Northern Renaissance Questions
1. Describe thee differences between Renaissance painting of Northern Europe and that of Italy.
The Northern Renaissance painters had many differences from the Italian Renaissance painters, but the most obvious was the use of everyday objects in their paintings instead of the religious subject matter that many painters of the Italian Renaissance used. The Northern Renaissance painters often used everyday objects because they were not influenced by the Greeks and Roman as the Italian artists were, but were influenced by their own traditions and history. The Northern Renaissance painters, mostly those in the Low Countries, used oil paint as their main medium, allowing for better realism of the objects that they painted, showing truer color and light.
3. Discuss how the paintings of Bruegel and Bosch are alike.
Bruegel’s The Tower of Babel and Bosch’s Garden of Delights do not look very similar at first glance; while Bosch has painted a whimsical world of deceiving delight, Bruegel has painted a gloomy world devoid of hope. These two paintings are similar in subject matter, however, as both demonstrate what can happen when people become too greedy. The paintings are also similar because they both consist of many miniscule people who are over shadowed by much larger objects in the painting, such as the giant animals and eggs in Bosch’s and the overwhelming Tower of Babel in Bruegel’s.
3. Compare El Escorial with an Italian Renaissance building you have studied.
Although Phillip II set out to create a large complex much different from those of the Italian Renaissance, he did not completely succeed. The layout of El Escorial is very similar to that of the Sistine Chapel, both are anchored by majestic domes near the center of each complex and both are surrounded by immense walls. Both complexes are also well-known symbols of Catholicism, although El Escorial was built originally as a symbol of power and wealth and the Sistine Chapel was always meant as a religious sanctuary. The main difference of the two structures is the weight; the Sistine Chapel was built with the weightlessness of the Renaissance in mind while El Escorial was built to contradict the Renaissance, leaving it with a weighty and bulky appearance. Phillip II also wanted to limit the number of paintings in the complex and it only contains a royal coat of arms and statue of St. Lawrence while the Sistine Chapel has some of the greatest artwork in the world.
The Northern Renaissance painters had many differences from the Italian Renaissance painters, but the most obvious was the use of everyday objects in their paintings instead of the religious subject matter that many painters of the Italian Renaissance used. The Northern Renaissance painters often used everyday objects because they were not influenced by the Greeks and Roman as the Italian artists were, but were influenced by their own traditions and history. The Northern Renaissance painters, mostly those in the Low Countries, used oil paint as their main medium, allowing for better realism of the objects that they painted, showing truer color and light.
3. Discuss how the paintings of Bruegel and Bosch are alike.
Bruegel’s The Tower of Babel and Bosch’s Garden of Delights do not look very similar at first glance; while Bosch has painted a whimsical world of deceiving delight, Bruegel has painted a gloomy world devoid of hope. These two paintings are similar in subject matter, however, as both demonstrate what can happen when people become too greedy. The paintings are also similar because they both consist of many miniscule people who are over shadowed by much larger objects in the painting, such as the giant animals and eggs in Bosch’s and the overwhelming Tower of Babel in Bruegel’s.
3. Compare El Escorial with an Italian Renaissance building you have studied.
Although Phillip II set out to create a large complex much different from those of the Italian Renaissance, he did not completely succeed. The layout of El Escorial is very similar to that of the Sistine Chapel, both are anchored by majestic domes near the center of each complex and both are surrounded by immense walls. Both complexes are also well-known symbols of Catholicism, although El Escorial was built originally as a symbol of power and wealth and the Sistine Chapel was always meant as a religious sanctuary. The main difference of the two structures is the weight; the Sistine Chapel was built with the weightlessness of the Renaissance in mind while El Escorial was built to contradict the Renaissance, leaving it with a weighty and bulky appearance. Phillip II also wanted to limit the number of paintings in the complex and it only contains a royal coat of arms and statue of St. Lawrence while the Sistine Chapel has some of the greatest artwork in the world.
Friday, October 5, 2007
Comparisons
1. Describe three differences between Renaissance painting of Northern Europe and that of Italy.
The Northern Renaissance was more about observing and using every day objects in paintings. Paintings expressed great emotion and creativity. Extreme realism and great detail took place in artists’ paintings, whereas the Italian Renaissance focused more on the figure and form of an object, like the human body. Most of the art that took place in Italy was surrounded by a lot of Math and Science. In Northern Europe math and science was still used but artists went about their artwork more freely. It’s like the transition from scientific artists to mannerists. The rules of painting in the north were broken a bit more.
3. Discuss how the paintings of Bruegel and Bosch are alike.
Bruegel’s work was influenced by Italy. Overtime his work changed to containing larger figures. He painted people taking part in daily activities. His work did not revolve around religion unlike Bosch. He painted simple human activities and normal landscapes that you would come across in every day life. Bosch’s paintings contain a bit more imagination than Bruegel’s. It contains lots of symbolism and tends to revolve around religion more. While expressing daily activities in his paintings many of the things he portrays focus more or morals and religion like in his Garden of Delights, which depicts heaven and hell.
3. Compare El Escorial with an Italian Renaissance building you have studied.
El Escorial was not a typical Italian building. The Spanish went against the classical ideas of the Renaissance and formed their own style of architecture shown in this building. Along with being different there was great symbolism behind El Escorial. It was a combination of a place and a church and expressed the unity of the Catholic religion. It also symbolized the great dynasty Philip II ruled. Compared to the Duomo the style of El Escorial was more simple and more about balance and size. It lacked the grace of Italian architecture, which the Duomo portrays. Although graceful and very beautiful the Duomo didn’t contain as much symbolism as El Escorial did. The greatness behind the Duomo was not its symbolism but the math and science that went behind creating the support and structure itself. Both are very appealing to the eye but one has great symbolism behind it while the other has great math and science.
The Northern Renaissance was more about observing and using every day objects in paintings. Paintings expressed great emotion and creativity. Extreme realism and great detail took place in artists’ paintings, whereas the Italian Renaissance focused more on the figure and form of an object, like the human body. Most of the art that took place in Italy was surrounded by a lot of Math and Science. In Northern Europe math and science was still used but artists went about their artwork more freely. It’s like the transition from scientific artists to mannerists. The rules of painting in the north were broken a bit more.
3. Discuss how the paintings of Bruegel and Bosch are alike.
Bruegel’s work was influenced by Italy. Overtime his work changed to containing larger figures. He painted people taking part in daily activities. His work did not revolve around religion unlike Bosch. He painted simple human activities and normal landscapes that you would come across in every day life. Bosch’s paintings contain a bit more imagination than Bruegel’s. It contains lots of symbolism and tends to revolve around religion more. While expressing daily activities in his paintings many of the things he portrays focus more or morals and religion like in his Garden of Delights, which depicts heaven and hell.
3. Compare El Escorial with an Italian Renaissance building you have studied.
El Escorial was not a typical Italian building. The Spanish went against the classical ideas of the Renaissance and formed their own style of architecture shown in this building. Along with being different there was great symbolism behind El Escorial. It was a combination of a place and a church and expressed the unity of the Catholic religion. It also symbolized the great dynasty Philip II ruled. Compared to the Duomo the style of El Escorial was more simple and more about balance and size. It lacked the grace of Italian architecture, which the Duomo portrays. Although graceful and very beautiful the Duomo didn’t contain as much symbolism as El Escorial did. The greatness behind the Duomo was not its symbolism but the math and science that went behind creating the support and structure itself. Both are very appealing to the eye but one has great symbolism behind it while the other has great math and science.
General Impressions
I really enjoyed watching The Girl with the Pearl Earring in class. The film was a good technique to draw people’s attention to Vermeer’s life and how he created his famous paintings which have lingered on for centuries. The movie was able to tell a story behind his famous paintings and how it was created. Whether true or not, the movie focuses on Vermeer’s artistic techniques on how he created his brilliant paintings. The painting throughout the movie and Vermeer’s way of life demonstrates how the Northern Renaissance in the Low Countries exploited detail and realism in art. In Vermeer’s painting, Grete, seems to full of life and feels so real through Vermeer’s color and detail. The movie conveyed how Vermeer used several layers in his paintings to create the most accurate colors and lighting. Lighting was emphasized throughout the movie by showing how light can have a very effective in the painting process. The light cast into Vermeer’s workshop changed the way he saw his paintings which was seen through the chiaroscuro in the painting with Grete. The movie greatly shows how color and light were the main influences upon Vermeer’s painting. Vermeer also accentuated the common way of life in his paintings. In the portrait of Grete there was nothing more than a portrayal of a maid wearing a peal earring. Also, like many other painters we have looked at, Vermeer’s artwork was commissioned by people. However, like in the movie, when Vermeer wasn’t commissioned, he had to look towards an inspiration which he found in Grete. Therefore, unlike most artists during this time, Vermeer did not find inspiration in biblical stories but in his own life.
Girl with a Pearl Earring Reflection
Bailey Blossman
Art History
The film “Girl with a Pearl Earring” was an interesting take on the inspiration of Johannes Vermeer’s popular painting “Girl with a Pearl Earring”. From what I understand, the actual girl in the painting is still a mystery today. I was under the impression that Vermeer was an upper-middle class citizen in the
One of the properties that were present in the film was the idea of space. When Greet moves the chair from one of the setups Vermeer had been painting, she was opening up the space because “the girl looked trapped.” Also, color was present when Vermeer asked Greet to mix colors for him. From Greet’s reaction, I got the impression that this was an unheard of privilege – for a servant/housekeeper to be mixing paint for a famous artist. Vermeer’s paintings in the film appeared to be bolder because of the emphasis on color.
The idea of painting everyday life activity was shown in the film as well. During the northern Renaissance in the
Girl with a Pearl Earring Reflection
Although the movie was not based upon historic facts, it did incorporate facts about Vermeer that distinguished him from other artists of the time such as his use of the camera obscura. The film also showed the technique of oil painting by showing the process of using numerous layers of glazes to create a final painting with the correct color and light. The scenes in Vermeer’s studio demonstrated several of his paintings of common people in every day situations. The main painting property discussed in the film was the use of light; Grete knows that cleaning the windows will change the light in his studio and Vermeer later describes to Grete how the light can greatly affect the color of an object.
Girl With A Pearl Earring Thoughts
The movie was very entertaining and informational at the same time. Although what was being shown wasn’t true it gave great insight on how the life of an artist was, in particular Vermeer. The view of how artists were commissioned and how they lived while painting was interesting to watch. It was also very interesting to see how certain things affected the life of the artist, and their commission. For example, “Grete” affected Vermeer’s commission and painting, causing Vermeer trouble with his family along with creating a wonderful painting that is still viewed and discussed in Art History classes. I loved seeing what actually went on behind the scenes of a painting and how the life of a commissioned artist went along.
So far we’ve talked about how a lot of artists were commissioned to do work instead of always painting things on their own. Families and people of higher classes paid them to come and stay in their household and paint portraits or other images that they wanted for money. This movie shows a good example on how artists were commissioned. Vermeer worked for a person of a higher class and was told to paint certain images like “Girl With a Pearl Earring” for money.
There weren’t many properties shown in the paintings in the movie, for paintings weren’t shown very much. But there were some things I noticed that affected the properties of the painting. For example, when looking at his models, the surroundings affected how the painting would be. The lighting set the tone of the painting and caused certain shadows to stand out. It is seen through the dark backgrounds the models stand in front of that is brings great contrast to a painting and causes the main subjects to really pop out.
So far we’ve talked about how a lot of artists were commissioned to do work instead of always painting things on their own. Families and people of higher classes paid them to come and stay in their household and paint portraits or other images that they wanted for money. This movie shows a good example on how artists were commissioned. Vermeer worked for a person of a higher class and was told to paint certain images like “Girl With a Pearl Earring” for money.
There weren’t many properties shown in the paintings in the movie, for paintings weren’t shown very much. But there were some things I noticed that affected the properties of the painting. For example, when looking at his models, the surroundings affected how the painting would be. The lighting set the tone of the painting and caused certain shadows to stand out. It is seen through the dark backgrounds the models stand in front of that is brings great contrast to a painting and causes the main subjects to really pop out.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Movie Reflection
“Girl with a Pearl Earring” Reflection
I enjoyed watching this film because it was not a boring, historical documentary about an artist’s life. I liked how it was simple, although I felt a bit disappointed at the end. I felt that the movie would keep going and come to a conclusion, but I felt that it just left the viewer to wonder what happened to her. For me, this film tied into what we are learning in class very well. I noticed the interior of the houses reminded me of the painting Merode Altarpiece by the Master of Flemalle. The low ceilings and the closeness of the rooms reminded me of this painting. I also noticed that Vermeer incorporated everyday objects in his paintings, which goes along with the Low Country Renaissance. He set many of his paintings inside, with a desk and work materials. His work was very realistic and detailed, especially the figures in his portraits, which is another characteristic of the Northern Renaissance. I also noticed that his use of value was extremely realistic. He used the light and shadows on the figures very well, which helped make the paintings look very realistic. I also noticed that Vermeer used the technique chiaroscuro very well with the light in his paintings. In Woman Holding a Balance, there was a lot of chiaroscuro on the woman’s face and arms. The shadows work with the light from the left window and the light slowly fades into darker colors. The lines in his paintings are not very distinct, they fade into each other.
I enjoyed watching this film because it was not a boring, historical documentary about an artist’s life. I liked how it was simple, although I felt a bit disappointed at the end. I felt that the movie would keep going and come to a conclusion, but I felt that it just left the viewer to wonder what happened to her. For me, this film tied into what we are learning in class very well. I noticed the interior of the houses reminded me of the painting Merode Altarpiece by the Master of Flemalle. The low ceilings and the closeness of the rooms reminded me of this painting. I also noticed that Vermeer incorporated everyday objects in his paintings, which goes along with the Low Country Renaissance. He set many of his paintings inside, with a desk and work materials. His work was very realistic and detailed, especially the figures in his portraits, which is another characteristic of the Northern Renaissance. I also noticed that his use of value was extremely realistic. He used the light and shadows on the figures very well, which helped make the paintings look very realistic. I also noticed that Vermeer used the technique chiaroscuro very well with the light in his paintings. In Woman Holding a Balance, there was a lot of chiaroscuro on the woman’s face and arms. The shadows work with the light from the left window and the light slowly fades into darker colors. The lines in his paintings are not very distinct, they fade into each other.
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