The Imperial Procession is a detailed relief located on the south side of Ara Pacis Augustae, know today as Alter of Augustan Peace. Ara Pacis, as a whole, was commemorated to Augustus’ triumphal return to Rome after establishing Roman rule in Gaul and Hispania. The south side of the alter is an example of the realism in Roman art. Augustus, priests, and the imperial family walks in double lines as they would have in this particular procession. The people in the detailed relief are recognizable people of that day in age, and are participating in a specific event known in that time. The feet of the figures in the relief project from the architectural groundline, so the viewer feels that the procession is real. The rest of the alter presents Augustus in different ways. He is depicted as a speaker, a peacemaker, a civic leader, etc. it is much like seeing picture of a President of the U.S. in suit and tie during a speech, and then in jeans and a t-shirt participating in a service project. This method of portrayal was very common in Roman art.
Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus is an example of Christian art. Junius Bassus was a Roman official that had been baptized and died very young. The front of this panel is divided into ten spaces where ten different depictions of the Bible are sculpted. The detail in the architecture (columns) used to separate each scene suggests an earthly setting for the scenes. Jesus is depicted as a teacher/philosopher in the upper middle space. It is in this space that the pagan past of the Romans is referenced by Jesus standing on the head of Aeolus, the classical god of the winds. Since Aeolus personified the skies, it is thought that Christ is sitting in heaven in this scene. Another picture is of Jesus riding into Jerusalem in triumph on a donkey. Artwork like Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus was created to untie the imagery of the Old Testament of the Bible with the New Testament. Abraham is shown in one of the spaces right after he passed the test of God’s faith by being willing to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. Some say that this is a foreshadowing of God’s sacrifice of Jesus Christ. David is also shown after he is saved from the lion’s den. This is thought to be a preview of Christ’s resurrection. The story of Adam and Eve the story of Job, parts of the crucifixion including Pontius Pilot, and the story of Paul being arrested are on the piece as well. Each story has an enormous impact on Christianity, so it was important for the Christians to portray this to people.
The goal of a lot of Roman art was to show respect to a specific leader of the time. In order to do this, the actual leader was incorporated into the art somehow. There were statues of specific leaders built, towers made in honor of them, etc. the point was for the people to be able to distinguish the leaders in the art. The art depicted victories, accomplishments, and historical and current events of the time. This is very obviously happening in The Imperial Procession. Figures can be recognized, as they were meant to, and they are participating in a procession that would have happened in the time period it was built. Christian art, on the other hand, did not necessarily depict people from current times. Although the viewer was meant to be able to pick out each character in the art, they were not the leaders of the time. Christian art portrayed stories from the bible to better teach people about Christianity. The art was used as a way to initiate the worship of God, not man. Iconography was largely used in Christian art. Christians adopted symbols from pagan traditions, but also created their own. Depictions of stories from the Old Testament of the Bible were many times used as foreshadowing of the stories in the New Testament in art. Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus is a very good example of this. One can identify the figures in each scene by what is happening in the scene. Although they are recognizable people, they are only this way because that is the way people knew them. They are not leaders of the current time. They are not victorious in war. They are not participating in a common meeting, or procession in time; they are depicting what happens in the Bible.
For some reason my blog does not allow me to post pictures. It used to, but it no longer does. To see an image of The imperial Procession go here: http://www.westcler.org/gh/curlessmatt/arthistory/6/AraPacisImperialProcession.jpg
To see a picture of Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus go here: http://employees.oneonta.edu/farberas/arth/Images/arth212images/early_christian/sculpture/junius_bassus.jpg
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Parthenon Project
The metopes are a very interesting element of the Parthenon. Because of their size, they can sometimes go unnoticed. Nonetheless the metopes should be considered a marvel because by “numbering 92 in all, they were by far the most extensive cycle of metopes ever put together in Doric architecture” (18). The metopes tell the story of the centaur and the Greeks. The centaur was to represent to negative and barbaric qualities in humans, while the Greeks represented the positive and heroic qualities in humans. It was a battle of good versus evil when the drunken centaurs came into the banquet hall with a sexual agenda and took away the Greek’s women. This is the only story that is represented in the Parthenon in which the Greeks do not come out on top. The Classical Period was a time in realizing the constant struggle to maintain a balance between good and evil, and the metopes assist in getting that point across.
...i found this to be the most interesting story dictated on the Parthenon, partly because I find it to be truth.
...i found this to be the most interesting story dictated on the Parthenon, partly because I find it to be truth.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Psykter
The Psykter vase was a vase for cooling wine. it is a red-figure vase that depicts young, nude athletes practicing with their trainers. Each name of the athletes is inscribed, and some also have more of a description abut them. Oltos was the artist of this vase. He was an active potter in Greece from 525-500 bc. He put his signature on the 2 kylikes. OLtos made the figures skillfully so they would still look upright even with the curve of the vase. The trainers are bearded and wearing mantles with fold and zigzag edges, which is normal for Oltos' vessels. He is called a master in the relief line, and it can be proven with this Psykter vase.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
Native American Art
http://www.indians.org/articles/native-american-art.html
I am quite interested in Native American culture, so when i stumbled upon this article i decided to read it. It is about the different forms of art Native Americans takE part in. Art is just as important as music in their culture. Art was created to be a symbol just as a eagle or a bear is a symbol in Native American culture. Rocks, clay, fabric, feathers, etc. are examples of materials used to create in the Native American culture. They are known for a lot of basket weaving. The baskets not only serve as a form of art, but also as a tool in life. The people would die the fabric and weave the baskets into beautiful tribal patterns and colors, but then be able to carry their vegetables around in them as well. Another form of art that was also a useful tool were blankets. The Navajo are very well known for their blanket weaving. Not only would blankets show off the beautiful art, but also be used for keeping people warm when it became cold. But that is not all. The Native Americans also carves shapes such as walruses out of whale teeth. This art was meant for decoration. Finally, totem poles were forms of art that the Native Americans created. These well-known structures layer the family line. They are beautiful expressions of self while also displaying the family lineage.
Native American art does not exists just to be looked at. It also serves a purpose in the culture. I think that is an important idea to keep in mind. Is what i am creating or even doing serving a purpose in society and culture? What can I do to better the lives of others?
I am quite interested in Native American culture, so when i stumbled upon this article i decided to read it. It is about the different forms of art Native Americans takE part in. Art is just as important as music in their culture. Art was created to be a symbol just as a eagle or a bear is a symbol in Native American culture. Rocks, clay, fabric, feathers, etc. are examples of materials used to create in the Native American culture. They are known for a lot of basket weaving. The baskets not only serve as a form of art, but also as a tool in life. The people would die the fabric and weave the baskets into beautiful tribal patterns and colors, but then be able to carry their vegetables around in them as well. Another form of art that was also a useful tool were blankets. The Navajo are very well known for their blanket weaving. Not only would blankets show off the beautiful art, but also be used for keeping people warm when it became cold. But that is not all. The Native Americans also carves shapes such as walruses out of whale teeth. This art was meant for decoration. Finally, totem poles were forms of art that the Native Americans created. These well-known structures layer the family line. They are beautiful expressions of self while also displaying the family lineage.
Native American art does not exists just to be looked at. It also serves a purpose in the culture. I think that is an important idea to keep in mind. Is what i am creating or even doing serving a purpose in society and culture? What can I do to better the lives of others?
The Parthenon's Architecture and Power
http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/parthenon-and-the-acropolis-landmark-1.jpg
I think that the Parthenon is one of the most interesting structures in Greek history. This building stood for so much in the greek culture. When Athens was attempting to grow as a city and become a political and cultural center, the Parthenon was a building that proved both. In a time of war the structure was a symbol of power, and the fact that it was rebuilt was a sign that Athens could rise again. With the Parthenon in place, Athens was a city to be reckoned with. Eventually, the democracy of Greece was an envied political system that many countries used in order to make peace.
However, it was not only the strong, magnificent largeness of the building that made it so powerful, but also the slight angle of the pillars that gives the building the slight curve that gives off the essence of power. in the Classical period, geometrics were very popular and expected when it came to structures. However, the architect chose not to make the parthenon geometrically perfect, so when a person looks at it expecting the perfect geometry, and something is a bit off, the person has to stare at it longer. As a person sees something when he/she expects another it allows the power of the structure to exists. I find that fascinating.
I think that the Parthenon is one of the most interesting structures in Greek history. This building stood for so much in the greek culture. When Athens was attempting to grow as a city and become a political and cultural center, the Parthenon was a building that proved both. In a time of war the structure was a symbol of power, and the fact that it was rebuilt was a sign that Athens could rise again. With the Parthenon in place, Athens was a city to be reckoned with. Eventually, the democracy of Greece was an envied political system that many countries used in order to make peace.
However, it was not only the strong, magnificent largeness of the building that made it so powerful, but also the slight angle of the pillars that gives the building the slight curve that gives off the essence of power. in the Classical period, geometrics were very popular and expected when it came to structures. However, the architect chose not to make the parthenon geometrically perfect, so when a person looks at it expecting the perfect geometry, and something is a bit off, the person has to stare at it longer. As a person sees something when he/she expects another it allows the power of the structure to exists. I find that fascinating.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Downtown Presbyterian Church
The Downtown Presbyterian Church was an interesting experience for me. The historic building was beautiful from the outside, and made me feel small already, so I had a feeling that there would be a similar element when I entered. I was right. Walking into the sanctuary made me shrink. The Pillars were tall and vast, and there were some more painted behind them to give the room depth. The bold colors of the pillars and wall along with the stained-glass windows illuminated the building. The maroon carpet, the pink chair, and the simple pews did not seem to flow with the the rest of magnificent and strong architecture. In the choir loft, I could really identify the use of trapezoids and triangles. Geometry was used very well.
When our group discuss how we felt in the church some were offended by the style, and some were not. I can understand how someone would take offense to a place decorated like a country that worshipped other gods than the God that they worship in that space. They may think that decoration is out of place for a church. But the design of the church and the way it is decorated can also be seen as a completely different aspect of the church, and have nothing to do with the worship.
When our group discuss how we felt in the church some were offended by the style, and some were not. I can understand how someone would take offense to a place decorated like a country that worshipped other gods than the God that they worship in that space. They may think that decoration is out of place for a church. But the design of the church and the way it is decorated can also be seen as a completely different aspect of the church, and have nothing to do with the worship.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Turkish politics embraces body art
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/09/17/turkey.tattoos.ataturk/index.html?iref=allsearch
I read an article on tattoos in Turkey called, Turkish politics embraces body art. This article is about the recent popularity in getting the signature and/or face of founder and former political leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk on a visible part of the body such as the arm. Turkey is going through a time of political change where and Islamic leader is beginning to rule, and some people are upset about it. The Ataturk signature and portrait are a well known symbol of freedom and support of the deceased leader. In the past, it was common to see an Ataturk tattoo on someone's chest, or another less-visible part of the body, but times have changed, and some tattoo artists do as many as 5 Ataturk tattoos a day. One artist noted that the number of Ataturk tattoos increase on a day-to-day basis. There is even a particular salon that gives free Ataturk tattoos every year on the anniversary of his death.
Personally, I think this is one of the coolest stories I have ever heard. Not only are the tattoos attractive and subtle, but it states a political view and brings unity to the country. Every country needs unity, and I think that tattoos of a signature of a the founder of your country is a beautiful way of doing so. It says a lot about the country that the citizens would be proud enough of a political leader to permanently dye their skin to support him. I think it is special when tattoos can be more that a fashion statement. Many people are against tattoos. I personally am not, but if I were, this article would make me think again about my opinion on tattoos. In egyptian times, art was about kings and queens that were important and special to the people. The same thing is going on here with the tattoos. The Turks are making art of a political leader that they respected. THe only difference is that the art is on their bodies instead of carved out of stone.
I read an article on tattoos in Turkey called, Turkish politics embraces body art. This article is about the recent popularity in getting the signature and/or face of founder and former political leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk on a visible part of the body such as the arm. Turkey is going through a time of political change where and Islamic leader is beginning to rule, and some people are upset about it. The Ataturk signature and portrait are a well known symbol of freedom and support of the deceased leader. In the past, it was common to see an Ataturk tattoo on someone's chest, or another less-visible part of the body, but times have changed, and some tattoo artists do as many as 5 Ataturk tattoos a day. One artist noted that the number of Ataturk tattoos increase on a day-to-day basis. There is even a particular salon that gives free Ataturk tattoos every year on the anniversary of his death.
Personally, I think this is one of the coolest stories I have ever heard. Not only are the tattoos attractive and subtle, but it states a political view and brings unity to the country. Every country needs unity, and I think that tattoos of a signature of a the founder of your country is a beautiful way of doing so. It says a lot about the country that the citizens would be proud enough of a political leader to permanently dye their skin to support him. I think it is special when tattoos can be more that a fashion statement. Many people are against tattoos. I personally am not, but if I were, this article would make me think again about my opinion on tattoos. In egyptian times, art was about kings and queens that were important and special to the people. The same thing is going on here with the tattoos. The Turks are making art of a political leader that they respected. THe only difference is that the art is on their bodies instead of carved out of stone.
Menkaure and a Queen
This week in class we looked at Menkaure and a Queen. Menkaure, heir of Khafre, ruled in the fourth dynasty. The Egyptian people were obsessed with the thought of death and the afterlife. In fact, the working class was thought to continue their work even after death, meaning that they would never get to rest. In Egypt at this time, the deceased were buried with their possessions. This is why a statue from 2472 B.C.E. is still standing. Like other Egyptian artifacts, Menkaure and a Queen was kept in a place that was safe from weather and extreme temperatures. The figures are also wearing the traditional clothes of the time. The king would be wearing a kilt, beard, and headdress, and the Queen would wear a sheer form-fitting dress that shows off her curves.
This piece stood out to me because of how striking it is. The portrait of the two come off as poised, strong, and calm. The book also mentions that dignity and permanence are features of the piece, and I agree. However, the dignity and permanence of the portrait is not a coincidence. Menkaure and a Queen were specifically carved to look this way. Balance, proportion, and rhythm are themes in Egyptian art that Menkaure and a Queen incorporate. The same height of both people creates balance, and the repeated lines and parallels of the lines of their bodies create rhythm. Also, the fact that they are taking a step allows for movement in the piece. It appears that the figures are actually walking when in reality they are standing still. There is so much to this statue that attracts me to it, and I enjoyed learning about it.
This piece stood out to me because of how striking it is. The portrait of the two come off as poised, strong, and calm. The book also mentions that dignity and permanence are features of the piece, and I agree. However, the dignity and permanence of the portrait is not a coincidence. Menkaure and a Queen were specifically carved to look this way. Balance, proportion, and rhythm are themes in Egyptian art that Menkaure and a Queen incorporate. The same height of both people creates balance, and the repeated lines and parallels of the lines of their bodies create rhythm. Also, the fact that they are taking a step allows for movement in the piece. It appears that the figures are actually walking when in reality they are standing still. There is so much to this statue that attracts me to it, and I enjoyed learning about it.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Collage
Becca Fox
I will start with the background. It is a map of the U.S. I chose this as my background to represent my love for U.S. travel, travel in general, and the country I am from. I have outlined every state that I have been to. There are a group of southern states that I have not yet visited, so I put the character from Oh! The Places You’ll Go, by Dr. Seuss. I also put that character there because Dr. Seuss is my favorite author. I craved vanilla soft serve ice cream with rainbow sprinkles all summer so I incorporated that into my collage. I am from Annapolis, Maryland and traveled to Nashville by car for school so I traced the trip from MD, through VA, to TN on the map. Annapolis is the sailing capital of the world, which is the reason I have a sailboat on my collage. I love season changes. That is what the leaves represent along with autumn, my favorite season. Sunflowers are my favorite flower. The sun is vital to their survival, so I made a sun out of sunflower seeds. I have pictures of my mom, sister, some of my best friends, and my favorite tree in the entire world to represent my family. The puzzle pieces symbolize the world today. The worlds problems can be resolved, however, it is a puzzle that needs to be worked on with much thought and perfection. Until that moment, the puzzle will be incomplete. History and art go together in many ways. One of those ways is through the building of Mount Rushmore, where history and art actually came together as one. The day I saw Mount Rushmore in real life was the day that I began my love for history. I am going to be an art therapist. I believe it is of great importance that people are given chances to express themselves, and there are other ways of doing so than with words. Painting how one feels can also be very healing for a person, therefore, I have painted the world “feel” on my collage.
Light: the puzzle pieces were a mix of light and dark colors because the world is full of good and evil.
Texture: there is texture on the sailboat mast, the paintbrush, the sunshine, the ice cream cone, and the leaves.
Volume: the yellow puzzle piece has a darker puzzle piece behind it to create volume.
Line: the roads on the map itself make up lines, but my outline of the states I have been to add to this. The axis of my collage is created with the tilt of the paintbrush. It is split in half diagonally
Space: everything is on top of the map. The states I have no been to are the background of for the character from Oh! The Places You’ll Go.
Scale: my family, career, the world, and where I am from are most important to me. I have made these objects the biggest on the collage because I believe that they will be a huge part of who I will become as I continue to grow.
Symbolism: described in paragraph.
Friday, September 3, 2010
“Paradigm Shift”
This article explains an art show that the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) put on in 2009 called “Housepaint, Phase 2: Shelter”. The show included art from Toronto’s street artists to promote homelessness in the city. It enlightened viewers on many of the issues of homelessness, allowing the homeless to finally have a voice and be heard in the city. This article really moved me. As a social work major I am repeatedly reminded about the issues of homelessness, not to mention the amount I am reminded just by walking outside and around Nashville. It seem that homelessness is a problem that no one can get a grasp on, partly because the homeless are rarely allowed a voice. So to read about a huge museum putting on an entire show to advocate for homelessness truly filled me with joy. In the classroom we have learned about what we can tell about the artist/culture/time period of the piece; therefore, the work done by the street artists in Toronto also tell about their lives on the street, and those are important lives to know about.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
The Parthenon, By Frederic Church
It is possible to tell a lot about the time period and cultural beliefs and values of the people when Church painted The Parthenon solely by looking at the piece itself. The structure is already in ruins; therefore, it was painted after ancient times. However, the emphasis of abstract art, present in contemporary art is not incorporated in the painting, so it was not painted in recent years. The Parthenon was painted during a lot of classical training. Today, people are not taught to paint with the exact precision of line, making the painting look like a photograph. The illumination of the Parthenon along with the size Church painted the structure again proves the importance of the Parthenon in the society. Lastly, the petite size of the person in the painting symbolizes how unimportant people are compared to the accomplishments of a society as a whole. A group of people built the Parthenon, not one person. When a civilization works together as one, much more is accomplish than one person doing the work on his/her own.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
"Frailty is a Moment of Self-Reflection"
I have always had a passion for the elderly. Some of my favorite moments in life have been snuggling with my grandpa on the couch. I often find myself laughing and smiling while talking to a senior citizen; it brings me such joy.
My 19 years on Earth seem so small when I think about the 70+ years that senior citizens have spent here. Their lives are full of history, full of stories, and full of wisdom, so I try my best to get as much out of their stories as possible. They may look wrinkled, and sometimes fragile, but it is the many years of life on Earth and many years of experience that has made them this way.
This leads me into why Eric Fischl's "Frailty is a moment of Self-Reflection" is my favorite painting. Sometimes our memories are just flashes of images we remember in our past. We cannot always remember exact scenarios or where we were when we had a certain conversation. I think that it is the flashes of memories that stay with us the most in life. When I first saw “Frailty is a moment of Self-Reflection” at the Frist it instantly seemed as if it were a flash of a memory. I made up a story in my mind that this is a flash of a memory of a grandchild as he/she was walking down the hallway in the early morning and catching grandpa fresh out of the shower. I thought of this painting as a flash of a memory because Fischl has painted the man so that the old age is obvious and present, however, the details are blurred. The painting catches the frailty and old age of the man as if the grandchild only spots grandpa for a split second, but because it was so unexpected the image will stay with the young child for the entirety of his/her life, and one day he/she will look like him.
The warm, neutral colors of “Frailty is a Moment of Self-Reflection” make the image peaceful. The colors are toned down from the hue making the time of day seem to be just after sunrise. The way the light in the image is placed reemphasizes the peaceful morning the man is having. The curved lines of his body make him look sleepy in the early morning, and add to the idea that it is just a glimpse that is being portrayed. The contrast of the dark staircase against the bright hall depicts that someone else in the house may still be sleeping, and that the man is tiptoeing.
Eric Fischl incorporated many aspects of life into this piece that I adore. The old man, the peaceful early morning, and the flash of a memory make “Frailty is a Moment of Self-Reflection” my favorite painting.
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