Masaccio, The Adoration of the Magi

Tommaso di Ser Giovanni di Mone Cassai (Masaccio)

The Adoration of the Magi

1926

• The adoration of the magi is actually part of the Pisa Polyptych which is located in Berlin, Germany 
• Painted in 1926
• There is a grand sense of depth which is important in the paintings of Masaccio
  
  • The background does not loose attention but is painted with knowledge of how it effects the front of the scene
  • It serves as a frame to the rest of the work
• It is an actual location outside of Pisa that is being used as the background
 

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Donatello: Equestrian Monument of Gattamelata

•Donatello was influenced by ancient Greek and roman examples such as the Marcus Aurelius in Rome and Constantine.

•Used a high base and restricted design to show bold masses and powerful tension. – the horse’s anatomy lacks in detail.

•The way Donatello portrays Gattamelata, makes one feel that Donatello may have met Gattamelata in person.

•Every element of design contributes to the impression of Gattamelata’s emotional and physical forces held under his stern control.

•Most likely created in the image of the ideal man of the Renaissance.
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Fra Lippi’s Madonna and Child with Birth of the Virgin and Meeting of Joahchin and Anna

•Florentine tradition of painted round trays. Common gift for weddings or when a boy is born.

•Shows 3-4 biblical scenes at once.
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Fra Lippi’s Annunciation

•The mood of the picture has little to do with classism

•2 angles= witnesses to the moment of Christ’s incarnation. Distracting

•There is a glass vase with water in the foreground, reflects the garden. Expected in Netherlands more then Italian. = awareness of artistic developments North of Alps.
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Santo Spirito

•Brunelleschi was asked to design a grandiose church @ Santo Spirito to replace a small thirteen-century structure.

•The interior of Santo Spirito produces an impression of mass and majesty.

•The design and its architect had to struggle with pre- existing buildings.

•Brunelleschi ignored the complex vaulting systems and compound piers of late medieval architecture.

•Corinthian columns were used to portray simplicity and beauty. The modular structure at Santo Spirito is identical to San Lorenzo

•The only difference is Santo Spirito has a simple plastered facade while San Lorenzo remains a wall of unfinished masonry.
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Andrea Orcegna's Tabernacle

•Made out of white Carrare marble, green marble, red mareme with mosaic in colored glass with silver and gold underline. Also used gold and lapis lazuri in it.

•commissioned in 1354 by Tommaso di Rosello Strozzi for the altar of the family chapel in S Maria Novella. 

•He designed the tabernacle as a completely self-contained domed structure to enclose the paintings of the virgin’s life.

•At least 117 figural reliefs and statues were carved to enhance the beauty of the tabernacle. 

•To emphasize authorship, Orcagna included his signature on the figure of St. Andrew that was a  self portrait of himself. 

•Orcagna’s transformed the Gothic style into a richer and more decorated. 

•Originally made so that it can be viewed by walking through main street @ Palazzo dela Signoria.

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Giotto's Bardi Chaple

+Giotto must have had assistance in laying out the surface and in the actual painting.
+Giotto used a short cut by using paper and parchment to transfer drawing on the fresco.
+Giotto portrays emotions on the subjects on his fresco paintings.
+Some of the images are distroyed by white wash.
+Bardi Chapel contains freco paintings of St Francis's life.
+ Bardi Chapel is a religion order church of St Frances.
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