Madonna and Child by Sandro Botticelli

This image is called Madonna and Child and was painted by Sandro Botticelli. He is the same artist that did The Birth of Venus, a painting we saw in class. It is dated as circa 1445, and is currently at The National Gallery in London. I found this to be an interesting depiction of the Virgin and Child because the love that is being expressed between them is clear to us. There is a genuine affectionate connection between mother and child. Note the loving way in which she gazes at Him; the way their faces seem to be touching just ever so slightly; and the way He is reaching for her, as if she were not close enough.

The next thing I noticed, is how strikingly young she looks. It is believed the Virgin Mary was about fourteen or fifteen when she gave birth to Christ. Botticelli reminds us of her youthfulness. He depicts her in an innocent, pensive, tranquil sort of way. It seems as though she is entirely at peace with herself and the world. Lastly, I really enjoy the detail in her dress and scarf. Each line is very delicate and gives the work a realistic touch.

instructions for blog posts

Some of you are still posting images that are not from the specific time period/culture we're discussing in class at the present; keep in mind that an image OF the time period is NOT the same as an image/object made IN the time period. IN the future please make sure that the image/object is from the appropriate time period. Email me if you have any questions about this.

Livia Drusilla

This is a sculpture of Livia Drusilla also known as Julia Augusta. She is the wife of Augusta whom was her second husband. She is described as being one who enjoyed the status of priviledged counselor of her husband. It was said that she petitioned on behalf of others to influence his policies. This was such a great feat for her because it is was an unusual role for a Roman wife in a culture dominated by paterfamilias, which are the head of the Roman family.

This sculpture stuck out to me because I could tell that she was royalty. I am a little disheartened that her left arm is cut off however from the angle that she is sitting I cant see if anything else is out of place. Im unsure if that happened during a time of war to show disrespect or if through time natural things happened that runied the sculpture. She gives off this heir of security. I also like the fact that she is covered instead of naked. I sometime find that offensive. Her face commands the sculputure even though most of it is her clothes.

This as painted by Marilene Sawaf. she graduated in Interior Design and Architecture from the University of Saint Espirt in Lebranon. She studied Art with the ABC school ofnFine Arts in Paris. Since 1981, she has exhibited her art paitings in many galleries. solo shows, and museums over the past 27 years. She was awarded the Ezecheil Straw Award(2006) and the Georgeopoulos award of drawing (2008) at the Currier Meusum of art annual exhibit with the NH art association. She use vibrate colors and stain glass effects of Medival art. She tries to capture the richness of color of the New England landscape, she has admired for the past 28 years. This also reminds of the many scultures and painting of glass makers we seen in class. those used vibrate colors and use of bright colorimg to fulfill their painting main message.

Title: Mariana

Artist: Valentine Cameron Prinsep

Country: Unknown

Time: 1888

Present location: Unknown

This painting was originally exhibited in 1888 as part of a collection of twenty-one paintings entitled "Shakespeare's Heroines." It is a remake of a paiting originally done by artist named Millais. Both the original and the remake of this painting feature this woman, Mariana, gazing out of her window. The difference? Millais' original work had a more dark and dismal tone, with dying autumn leaves; whereas Prinsep's work has more cheerful tone, set in spring with tulips blooming.

The piece of this painting that draws me most to it is the tulips in bloom. They complement Mariana's gold stripes in her dress and although she doesn't appear cheerful, the tulips add color to her otherwise dismal mood.

education

I found this picture on google.com, i could not find the artist. I liked this picture because i remembered when we were talking about the Monastic Life and all the categories under it. For example education , litereacy, authority and power etc. To me this picture shows a teacher teaching the kids how to read and the kids learning different lesssons. I think this was a huge thing for young women to be in a learning setting rather then just being to taught to be a mother or a wife.

I really liked how this picture brought out the educating of women at such a young age. but it looks as if a man is leading the class showing women are still subordinate to men. i also liked the colors of red and green. I also think color plays an important role in this picture because there are the three in red and one in green. in my opinion the one in green possibly is younger or not at the education level of the others. Either way all are being given the chance to make something of themselves.

Madonna and Child

Title: Madonna and Child

Artist: Giotto

Time Period: Middle Ages

Location: Firenze’s Uffizi Gallery

This is an image I found on Google images. It is a naturalistic perspective of The Virgin Mary and baby Jesus. In this painting by Giotto he uses a lot of light and dark values to get his point across; with this I see soft round deep modeling affects. During the Middle Ages women were shown in luxary wool and silk with silver. There was a theme at this time of fertility, marriage, and Christianity. Christian symbolism is generally called iconography. Jesus is shown in Mary’s left arm; one would say that there is a slight connection between the two. Mary is holding Jesus’ hand while he is clutching to her robe/dress. Mary’s expression is straight, I see no emotion. Jesus in the other hand is shown smiling like a normal infant.