Late 19th Century

I have a special fondness for the Impressionists because it was during French class in junior high school that I was first officially introduced to art via the French Impressionists. The paintings I loved the most were paintings that remain some of my favorites.

19th Century

My favorite paintings from this chapter are the landscapes by Friedrich and Daubigny. I like the mysterious quality of Friedrich and the impressionistic quality of Daubigny.

I especially like the small red flag around the vanishing point in Daubigny's Les Peniches. It's a very subtle spot of bright color in an otherwise subdued painting.

In Friedrich's Nebel, I love how the ship can just barely be made out and the row boat is only slightly more visible. I can't figure out what the object in the foreground is next to the big rocks. Does anyone know?

18th Century

These are the first three images of this painting that came up on the web and this is what I mean about the coloring being different everytime. I have happy, magical, childhood associations with the particular shade of pink of her dress but only the shade in the book. The first of these three comes close. Regardless, I love this painting because although I love the idea of a pastoral or nature setting, I rarely actually like those paintings. I love how Gainsborough, as the book says, "integrat(es) the woman into the landscape," especially by identifying her hair with the leaves of the tree making her look like a tree nymph. I also like her natural relaxed pose and the "feathery brushwork."

Dutch Baroque

Allegory of Taste

Allegory of Smell

Allegory of Hearing

Allegory of Sight

The most frustrating thing about art text books is that you can put a dozen different books showing the same painting side by side and the colors will all be different. Of course, I'm still grateful that we have them because I doubt I'll ever make it to Museo del Prado in Madrid but I would hate to find out that the gorgeous colors and shimmering quality of Rubens' Garden of Love was a trick by the photographer. The Raising of the Cross seems to have the same quality but Henry IV, although a wonderful piece, does not. Looking the paintings up online confuses the issue even more. Regardless, I am drawn to Rubens' work over the other Dutch Baroque or any other Baroque painters. I love the playfulness of the putti and overall I find his paintings to be the most rich and expressive. I really like the painting Allegory of Sight so I look up the other three paintings in the series.

Baroque

Whenever I see this painting I think of how the music of the Baroque era goes along so well with the art. Baroque music was highly decorative, frilly, if you will. It was rich, almost decadent. Composers of the era include J.S. Bach and Vivaldi.

Here is an URL for a youtube video of a Bach violin concerto. http://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play?p=bach&n=21&b=22&ei=utf-8&js=1&fr=ush1-mail&tnr=21&vid=0001301523991 Listen as you look over the Rigaud painting and the paintings of Carravaggio and Rubens. Also keep in mind the Bach was highly religious and wrote much of his music for the Lutheran church so he likely had the same devotion in mind as Carravaggio as he worked.

High Renaissance

The part of the video about Michaelangleo's Rondanini Pieta was particularly moving to me. Some people believe that art, whether sculpture, painting , music or any other type, is the last remnant of materialistic hold on a person's spirit. In other words, once you work through your passion for art there is nothing left but God. Michaelangelo seemed to be at this point. He seemed to be letting go of art despite the fact that he was one of art's greatest master's.

Italian Renaissance

I love the idea of a competition for artists and architects. I know it is still done in modern times though you don't hear about it much unless it's something of national importance like the Viet Nam War Memorial or Daniel Libeskind's building which is to replace the World Trade Center.

Vietnam War Memorial arial view

Rendering of Libeskind's "Freedom Tower "

I wanted to see the other 12 of the 14 sculptures commissioned to fill the niches at Orsanmichele. I found this website where you can see them all: http://www.museumsinflorence.com/musei/orsanmichele.html

The sculptures of many of the saints are remeniscent of sculptures of the gods of Greek and Roman mythology. The size and shape of their bodies and faces reflect the ideal man or woman (in the one female example, St. Mary.) in the minds of time. Still, the faces of the saints appear highly individualistic. Each one has his or her own personality.