Lines and Shapes in Art

• Implied lines suggest the alignment of shapes.
• A line is an infinite series of points arranged in a direction.
• A contour line is where differing areas meet and form edges.
• Cross hatching utilizes uniformly spaced intersecting lines, creating the perception of value, light, and dark.
• Psychic lines are formed between two people looking at each other or at an artwork
• Shapes can be classified as hard-edged or soft-edged.
• Hard-edged shapes possess clear, defined boundaries.
• Soft-edged shapes slowly fade into their backgrounds.
• Geometric shapes are regular and ordered, incorporating straight lines and curves.
• Organic shapes are generally irregular and chaotic.
• A figure is an object appearing in front of the ground.
• Figure/ground reversal occurs when what is initially seen as a positive shape can also be interpreted as a negative space.
• Volume refers to the space occupied by an object.
• Mass is the quantity of matter, often related to weight.
• Closed form refers to a volume that is not pierced or perforated.
• Open Form exits
• Positive space denotes the space occupied by a given volume.
• Negative space refers to the empty space within a volume.
• Chiaroscuro refers to varying shades of light and dark.
• Color is a prominent and subjective element of design.
• Hue refers to the wavelength of a given color.
• Saturation describes color purity, ranging from neutral gray to pure color, while maintaining constant brightness.
• Form
• Composition refers to the arrangement of elements within a work of art.
• Material refers to the substances used to create a work of art.
• Technique refers to the method or skill used to create a work of art.
• Space
• Perspective is a technique used to represent three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional surface.
• Proportion refers to the relative size and scale of elements in a design.
• Carving
• Casting
• Relief refers to a sculptural technique in which elements remain attached to a solid background of the same material.
• Brightness refers to the lightness or darkness of a color, ranging from fully illuminated to fully darkened.
• Subtractive color, or reflective color, occurs when white light reflects off a surface, and all colors of the spectrum are absorbed except the one reflected back.
• Additive Color, transmission color, happens when light of different colors is projected.
• Local color describes the inherent color of an object.
• Observed color is how the perception of local color changes based on conditions.
• A complementary color scheme uses colors opposite of each other on the color wheel.
• An analogous color scheme uses colors that are adjacent to each other on the color wheel.
• Texture describes the surface quality of artwork.
• Actual texture is primarily sculptural.
• Implied texture is primarily used in 2D art.
• Impasto involves applying paint thickly to create a heightened sense of reality.
• Context
• Style refers to the distinctive manner which permits the grouping of works into related categories.
• Subject refers to the main idea or theme of the artwork.
• Artist
• Patron
• Science
• Literary criticism
• Philosophy
• Sociology
• Gender studies
• Relief sculpture has heads and shoulders that exist independently of any architectural frame or setting that can be walked around
• Relief sculpture shows subjects projecting from a background while remaining part of it, with high relief having boldly projecting images and low relief having slight projections
• Architectural Drawings

Workshop of Robert Campin, Annunciation Triptych (Merode Altarpiece)

• Made 1425-1428
• Made with tempera and oil on panel
• Annunciation is a new testament subject.
• The central frame showcases Mary and Gabriel in a living room.
• Donors on the left are patrons who commissioned the painting.
• The garden is symbolic of Mary's virginity, with great detail in the painting.
• Paint texture and light are done with oil paint.
• Gabriel is telling Mary she will conceive Jesus.
• There are sharp folds and complexity of the cloth.
• A young boy is considered the holy spirit.
• It doesn't follow rules of linear perspective -This painting uses Renaissance, Joseph, Mary's husband, symbolizes Christ's death
• It is naturalism of the Renaissance and merchantilism

Jan van Eyck, The Ghent Altarpiece

• Completed in 1432
• Done with oil on wood
• Van Eyck's The Ghent Altarpiece (open) depicts the adoration of the Mystic Lamb is presided over by the figure of God (Byzantine origin)
• A register above depicts of the Annunciation
• The moment is when the archangel Gabriel says Mary is mother of Christ.
• The two scenes are pure genre scenes seen from everyday life/
• Beside the Virgin, is a window with buildings in Ghent
• A small linen pitcher and a towel are on the rack in a recessed niche, expressing the purity of the Virgin
• Zacharias is the Old Testament prophet with a shallow rounded arch above the Gabriel panel
• Micah who predicted birth of the Messiah is above the Virgin
• The Erythraean and Cumaean Sibyls are in the central, upper register panels
• All four figures are messengers of the incarnation and sacrifice of Christ
• Adam and Eve are God's first human creations
• They necessitate a salvation scene
• They reside literally on edges of the altarpiece, indicative of their state of sin
• Adam and Eve's sin in the Garden of Eden is why the Mystic Lamb exists — full salvation play with sacrificial lamb symbolic of Christ.
• The left figures, known as the Just Judges and the Soldiers of Christ, on horseback, arrayed with glittering armor,
• They are armed with swords of Justice, followed by the Judges wearing opulent wealth.
• From the right are saints and prophets, including the giant St. Christopher
• Male saints dressed in simple tunics and robes in sober earth tones.
• The mystic lamb is the Lamb of God and sacrificial lamb, it is the symbol of Christ and Christ's death.
• The lamb on the altar is related to the crucifixion of Christ, made explicit by the juxtaposition of the lamb with the cross held by the angel.
• Other angels behind the altar hold instruments of the Passion: the column to which Christ was tied during his flagellation, the sponge used to touch his lips with vinegar
• Angels swing censors containing incense to reference the sacrament of the Eucharist where bread and wine become body and blood of Christ
• Flowing blood linked to flowing water in the foreground fountain allude to Christ as "living water" of God.
• The fountain is the Fountain of Life, and reference to the promise of eternal life from Christ's sacrifice.

Herman, Paul, and Jean de Limbourg

• Made Les Très Riches Heures du Duc De Berry, 1413-16
• Paul, Jean, and Herman Limbourg were three Dutch brothers known for their illuminated manuscripts.
• Manuscripts are famous and were commissioned by Duke Jean de Berry and worked in France
• Their style is associated with International Gothic, characterized by detailed realism, vibrant colors, and elegant figures
• Their commissioned manuscript, Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry is most famous
• The manuscript contains a book of hours (prayer book with detailed calendar illustrations) for private devotion
• There are features of naturalistic landscapes, architecture, and daily life of the nobility and peasants
• It innovatively displays use of space and perspective, with rich coloring and gold detailing scenes show courtly life blending in sacred and secular themes
• January depicts a lavish feast at the Duke's court
• February features peasants warming by a fire, a less-common subject matter
• October depicts a detailed landscape with the Louvre in the background
• Advanced manuscript illumination heightens realism and depth
• It inspired painters such as Jan van Eyck
• Work sets new standards for detail, composition, and storytelling for illustration

Chapter 20 Notes

• In the 15th century, Flanders prospered; this region corresponds to modern Belgium, Netherlands, and areas of Northern France.
• Oil-based pigments were popular
• In the 15th-century Flanders, artists gained significant patronage from wealthy merchants, guilds, clergy, and royalty
• Roger van der Weyden 1400 - 1464, an early oil painting master, created "Saint Luke Drawing the Virgin" in Brussels, a city where he lived
• It depicts Saint Luke drawing the Virgin while she nurses Christ, highlighting the preparatory process and celebrating art in Flanders.
• Portrait painting was key Flemish genre at the time.
• It embodies the detailed, realistic style, like fabrics; the armrest has Adam, Eve, and the serpent, for the Virgin and Christ's role as the new Eve and humanity's redeemer
• Northern Europe, in the 15th century, had political, economic, and artistic transformations
• Feudalism declined, with countries centralizing and merchants boosting economy; advancements like oil painting and printmaking gained importance.
• Duchy of Burgundy, during the 15th century, become one of Northern Europe's most powerful
• Philip the Bold expanded the area by marrying Margaret de Mâle, made Bruges a financial hub
• The Duchy mostly sided with England in wars for economic reasons, and reached the Rhône River to the North Sea
• Northern European artists embraced realism and naturalism during the 15th century.
• Claus Sluter has sculptures with lifelike figures, detailing, and textures.
• Retable de Champmol, made by Jacques de Baerze and Melchior Broederlam, became a artistic advancements for it's sculpted scenes with painted side panels
• Altarpieces played a role in churches for visually reinforcing faith with early oil paintings helped achieve richer colors for artists
• Northern European manuscript illumination made advancements with three-dimensional representation
• Italy caused this, Renaissance artists revived classical pictorial techniques

Limbourg Brothers and Les Très Riches Heures

• The Limbourg brothers—Pol, Herman, and Jean–trained in the Netherlands, worked in Paris, and commissioned Les Très Riches Heures (The Very Sumptuous Hours of the Duke of Berry) with texts for prayer as replacements to psalters
• The books rose to popularity for the European aristocracy.
• Les Très Riches Heures was remarkable for its full-page calendar illustrations, depicting seasonal tasks and events in scenes of nobility/peasantry
• There are advancements in illusionistic painting
• January Scene showed New Year's reception at the duke's court
• October Scene showed peasants near the Louvre, showing an artists interest in realism for the time.
• Absence of hardship flattered benevolence ruler
• The depiction of the duke represented piety, power, and wealth blending religious and secular for the religious Duke

The Master of Mary of Burgundy

• Advanced manuscript illumination, possibly by Alexander Benning, worked to display greater realism
• His book of hours had detail, Mary wearing a veil and roasry beads, made illumination and panel painting closer than before.
• The innovations of the Limbourg brothers/ Master of Mary impacted art, making manuscripts as panel paintings, mixing religious and secular themes, and naturalistic detail
• Egg tempera, during the 14th century, consisted of yolk w/ground pigment that avoids cracking
• Oil painting was pioneered by Flemish artists like by Melchior Broederlam /Robert Campin
• It uses Linseed oil to allow slow drying, blending, and layering for smooth textures that was utilized by Van Eyck - resulting in sfumato.
• Artists used Wood panels and Italian poplar, before the use of canvas paintings which had proved lightweight, portable, and practical by late 16th century.
• The Master of Mary of Burgundy, particularly in the Book of Hours of Mary showed rich fabrics, details like flowers, as seen through a chapel; the chapel had "window onto the world" effect with Burgundy's prayers to the Virgin and Child in art history.

Master of Flemalle

• They became great from their Flemish due to his rich colors from oil
• Used the Mérode Triptych, which had blended religious and secular, showing candle symbolic of rising art with Van Eyck and the Ghent Altarpiece
• Jan van Eyck became renowned court painter, to complete it as a polyptych to celebrate redemption
• His oil paint captured texture, like hair, for his details.

Rise of secular art

• Flemish merchants desired self-representation, and is found in Ghent - reflecting in society.
• He painted symbolic portraiture.
• Jan Van Eyek made religious, secular portraiture.
• Jan V Eycks Man in is Red Turban, self-portrait on frame with details became notable from it having a direct gaze.
• Roger van de Weyden, from a workshop, expresses "Deposition", evaking art, is able to make human emotion.
• 15th century Flemish painters such as as Jan Van Ryden
• Petrus used religious like vocational themes/artistic detail.
• Deic Bouts, (1415-1475) was Known for Eucharist and incorporating religious scene.
• Huge Van goes (1440 - 14820, created atler piece and influenced Italian.
• Hand held work.
• Some traditions remained in the style with the artist maintaining the symbolism

Art during the 15th Century

• Masters incorportated detail, symbolisicm, maintaing religious elements (Memiling, Gois and

• The convex mirror extended illusion, while Christ transition was transitioning from Flemic themes toward spatial coherence

• Dierc BOuts, became official painter in Louian.

• As one of Norhter artists his linear perspectice (commission from HO Sacrament) emphasized eurcharistic sacraemnt, portraits of donors, with lines at a vanished point

• Van des goes (1440 - 1482) became townhall influence. Hugo van der Goes

• Achieved prominence in Ghent, later becoming a member of a religious order.

• His Portinari Altarpiece was commissioned by Tommaso Portinari, and placed in Florence’s Sant’Egidio Church.

• The central panel deviates from earlier depictions by showing Mary kneeling solemnly instead of cradling Christ with distinct emotional display.

• Flemish tradition involved irises, columbines, and a sheaf from wheat.

• The background vignettes included the journey to Bethlehem was deeply inspired.

• Hans Memling(1430-1494) trained with Rogier van der Weyden, settling in Bruges.

• His Saint John Altarpiece features Saint Catherine, musical/ serene colors.

The Flemish painters maintained a tradition, developing with works with religious elements. Their works also spread artistic expression to Italy, primarily known in Florance

• 15th, France had Burgundy, Berry with rising monarch in Flanders with wealthy individuals commission oil paintings

French Artist 15th C Jean

• Fouquet 14 25 - 1478 with commissioners like Duke and Royal created work for Etune Cher, with left showing style like stone showing maryrdom = Right panel had God Cherbushes use Auges with king diptych blending and politic significance

15th Centry Art

Unlike France ( Germany) the Roman Empire in 15 century due to wars. The leaders that became artistic of Large Scale.

• Altapiece : Altapiece of peter (1444, Konrad)- triptych that inclding bibicacla scenes with showing St Peter.
• Witz work had lake, and was first painting feating identifiable with the artist
• Sluter's well of moss was originally known, burgandy, france. Commsioned with, Philip the bold, for pray
• It becomes burial place of Philp loved carthustias, wanted to be in rode The each side has the structure of angel, with angel thin and the cross of the Christ with Mary

• Was painting but wore off, with each with a figure individuality.

• Vab - Arnfini

• Was shows paints, with shoes being the symbol og light.

• Each scences from in ring. With dog and warmth with expersnive.

• Light makes gentle look-

Prints and Intaglio

• Different tones and make face to look.
• Steel facing increases surface
• Etching the place.

Renaissance.

• His points shows and