Chapter 16. Living with Art: 7th edition

I really enjoyed Chapter 16. I learned some things about linear perspective and landscape composition. I learned more about many famous artworks that I have seen in the past, but did not appreciate until learning more about them and their details. I know a few of the classmates do not like this reading and comparing and contrasting from the text, but I really enjoy it, and will continue reading all the chapters. In this chapter, there were many artworks I would have liked to spend time on, including Bellini’s St. Francis in the Desert. However, I chose to compare and contrast the following:

16.1 Donatello St. Mark 1411

16.9 Michelangelo, David 1501

I appreciate the skill it must take to carve marble with such details. Both statues are life-like and I expect them to begin moving like those actors who paint themselves white like statues and stand really still in Las Vegas Malls and them move when least expected. I think that David is more realistic in the facial features and I like the stance with the extended and bent forward left foot. The muscles in the neck and abdomen are very natural, and the way the right hand claws and bends fingers is also done so well. I really wonder if different lighting would change the appearance much, especially the shadows on both sculptures. These artists certainly knew their anatomy and the similar stances with right shoulder down, right hip out and left arm and hand forward are all signs of the similar anatomy lessons they had. I think both have their excellence in different ways: Donatello for the way he sculpted the natural and detailed draping and folds of the robe, and Michelangelo for the muscle tone and details of the nude body. I can see why they are both in the text. David is my favorite for the intense expression in the face and direction of eyes.


16.16 Giorgione The Tempest c. 1505

16.17 Titian (Giorgione?) Fete Champetre, 1511

Similiaities are in the details and the darkened faces, and tree trunks, but there are differences too in the grass and ground and sky, so I would say that the differences probably mean it was Titian who did the Fete Champetre. Both are detailed, well balanced and thoughtful. I lke the tall thin plant in front of the nude and baby in The Tempest. The greater amount of contrast in The Tempest between light and dark, is more attracting. Both use linear perspective and place landscape centrally, but The Tempest has the landscape more dominant than the people of the two. I also like the movement in the trees with The Tempest.