3a: The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere; Grant Wood, 1931
The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1807-1882
Written April 19, 1860; first published in 1863 as part of "Tales of a Wayside Inn"
Read 3a and poem; observations (style, composition, movement, prominent elements, perspective, etc).
How was the painting inspired by the poem? Compare the two.
Discuss the scene- what makes this a New England village of the late 1700s?
Primitive/Naive art: a classification of art that is often characterized by a childlike simplicity in its subject matter and technique. While many naïve artists appear, from their works, to have little or no formal art training, this is often not true. Often seen in contrast to ‘the academy’, a formal, highly schooled manner of art creation, most often painting. The characteristics of naïve art are an awkward relationship to the formal qualities of painting. Real or intentional difficulties with drawing and perspective that result in a charmingly awkward and often refreshing vision, strong use of pattern, unrefined color, and simplicity rather than subtlety are all supposed markers of naïve art.
- Is this an appropriate way to depict this important American legend?
Other examples of Grant Wood’s work;
American Gothic
Fall Plowing
Town
Grandma Moses (1860-1961)
Beautiful World
The Pond
More...
Thursday, September 24, 2009
2b: Silvercraft of the 18th – 20th centuries
Read 2b: Silvercraft of the 18th – 20th centuries; Observations?
Compare the 1796 teapot with the one in the portrait of Revere:
- What does Revere’s 1796 teapot look like? – Its body is fluted like a Classical column.
- After the Revolution, why did this Neoclassical architecture appeal to Americans? Neoclassical designs were based on Greek and Roman architecture, which reminded viewers that their new country’s government was based on ancient Greek and Roman ideals.
- Why was drinking tea a social event in the 17th century?
- Why were tea sets made of silver in the 17th and 18th century?
- Why did Americans want to own them?
- What developments made them more affordable?
- Aside from being aesthetically appealing, do the forms/styles of any of these tea sets suggest a deeper meaning or social commentary? What do they suggest about daily life and trends? Everyday objects can be full of meaning because they reflect contemporary styles, values, tastes and trends. Even though objects such as tea pots are mainly functional, they still convey information about the society in which and for which they were made.
Look at other examples, discuss.
Compare the 1796 teapot with the one in the portrait of Revere:
- What does Revere’s 1796 teapot look like? – Its body is fluted like a Classical column.
- After the Revolution, why did this Neoclassical architecture appeal to Americans? Neoclassical designs were based on Greek and Roman architecture, which reminded viewers that their new country’s government was based on ancient Greek and Roman ideals.
- Why was drinking tea a social event in the 17th century?
- Why were tea sets made of silver in the 17th and 18th century?
- Why did Americans want to own them?
- What developments made them more affordable?
- Aside from being aesthetically appealing, do the forms/styles of any of these tea sets suggest a deeper meaning or social commentary? What do they suggest about daily life and trends? Everyday objects can be full of meaning because they reflect contemporary styles, values, tastes and trends. Even though objects such as tea pots are mainly functional, they still convey information about the society in which and for which they were made.
Look at other examples, discuss.
Top to bottom: Gorham coin silver tea and coffee service circa 1853-1865;
GorhamTea and Coffee service in coin silver C-1855; Tiffany, 1910; Reed and Barton silverplate, late 1800s; Tiffany, 1881.
2a: Paul Revere, 1768 by John Singleton Copley
Read 2a, Observations?
- What objects are included in this portrait? The subjects posture/body language/facial expression? What is emphasized? What is his clothing like?
- Paul Revere was a craftsman in a busy studio. How has Copely idealized the setting for this portrait?
Portrait Composition: basic concepts/symbolism/composition
-The Focal Point: where is your eye drawn first? How does it travel around the painting?-Lines convey emotions. Horizontal lines suggest a calm and quiet feeling. Vertical lines convey strength and grandeur. Diagonal lines express energy and motion and dominate dramatic compositions.
-Color: symbolism in colors varies by culture and time period. Here are some examples: Red: Excitement, danger, love, passion, the blood of Christ, Divine love, the Holy Spirit, courage, self-sacrifice, martyrdom, fire; sin. Yellow: The sun, the goodness of God, treasure in heaven, spiritual achievement. Green: Hope, victory, happiness and gaiety, springtime, youth, good humor. Blue: strength, wisdom, enduring loyalty, eternity, truth. Purple: Justice, royalty, suffering. White: Serenity, peace, purity, joy, faith, innocence. Black: death, evil, rebellion, sin. Brown: earthy, steadfast, healthy. Grey: dullness, sadness, ashes, old age. Silver: money, wealth. Gold: wealth, purification, the sun, the goodness of God, treasure.
-Different types of Composition provide clues into or reflect the nature of the subject matter:
Triangle / pyramid-Christianity equilateral triangle signifies the consummation, closure, accomplishment, completion, Trinity.-Symbolic representation of triad related with unity of man, woman and offspring- often found in paintings of Jesus and Mary, such as: Andrea del Sarto, Madonna in Glory and Saints; Leonardo's Virgin of the Rocks
Scales - Often found in paintings about justice, right v. wrong, balance, etc.-Quentin Massys, The Money Lender And His Wife
Circle The circle is a universal symbol signifying integrity, continuity, initial perfection, eternity. The circle is time that closes in itself space. It is absent of beginning and end. Signifies return, return movement, eternal movement, and finality. Also a symbol of God and sun.-Bertholet Flemal, Heliodorus Driven From The Temple
Cross Signifies cosmic axis, cosmic tree, archetypical human being, four directions - East, South, West, North. A symbol of creator, penalty for misdeed. A cross as a wooden structure consisting of an upright post with a transverse piece, is an emblem of Christianity, it is a salvation by Christ, delivering from sin or saving from evil, it is a symbol of suffering, hope, atonement.
Rays
S Curvature
Centered Rectangle
Zigzag
Waves
The Trident
Snail
Stairway
Rows
Diagonal
Homework: a) Look up your assigned form of composition, write a definition of it. b) Find a painting that uses this type of composition. c) How do you know this painting uses this type of composition? d) Print two copies of the painting (it should be over 800x600 pixels in size): on one of them, draw the basic form of the composition. Bring all these parts to class on Wednesday September 23.
- What objects are included in this portrait? The subjects posture/body language/facial expression? What is emphasized? What is his clothing like?
- Paul Revere was a craftsman in a busy studio. How has Copely idealized the setting for this portrait?
Portrait Composition: basic concepts/symbolism/composition
-The Focal Point: where is your eye drawn first? How does it travel around the painting?-Lines convey emotions. Horizontal lines suggest a calm and quiet feeling. Vertical lines convey strength and grandeur. Diagonal lines express energy and motion and dominate dramatic compositions.
-Color: symbolism in colors varies by culture and time period. Here are some examples: Red: Excitement, danger, love, passion, the blood of Christ, Divine love, the Holy Spirit, courage, self-sacrifice, martyrdom, fire; sin. Yellow: The sun, the goodness of God, treasure in heaven, spiritual achievement. Green: Hope, victory, happiness and gaiety, springtime, youth, good humor. Blue: strength, wisdom, enduring loyalty, eternity, truth. Purple: Justice, royalty, suffering. White: Serenity, peace, purity, joy, faith, innocence. Black: death, evil, rebellion, sin. Brown: earthy, steadfast, healthy. Grey: dullness, sadness, ashes, old age. Silver: money, wealth. Gold: wealth, purification, the sun, the goodness of God, treasure.
-Different types of Composition provide clues into or reflect the nature of the subject matter:
Triangle / pyramid-Christianity equilateral triangle signifies the consummation, closure, accomplishment, completion, Trinity.-Symbolic representation of triad related with unity of man, woman and offspring- often found in paintings of Jesus and Mary, such as: Andrea del Sarto, Madonna in Glory and Saints; Leonardo's Virgin of the Rocks
Scales - Often found in paintings about justice, right v. wrong, balance, etc.-Quentin Massys, The Money Lender And His Wife
Circle The circle is a universal symbol signifying integrity, continuity, initial perfection, eternity. The circle is time that closes in itself space. It is absent of beginning and end. Signifies return, return movement, eternal movement, and finality. Also a symbol of God and sun.-Bertholet Flemal, Heliodorus Driven From The Temple
Cross Signifies cosmic axis, cosmic tree, archetypical human being, four directions - East, South, West, North. A symbol of creator, penalty for misdeed. A cross as a wooden structure consisting of an upright post with a transverse piece, is an emblem of Christianity, it is a salvation by Christ, delivering from sin or saving from evil, it is a symbol of suffering, hope, atonement.
Rays
S Curvature
Centered Rectangle
Zigzag
Waves
The Trident
Snail
Stairway
Rows
Diagonal
Homework: a) Look up your assigned form of composition, write a definition of it. b) Find a painting that uses this type of composition. c) How do you know this painting uses this type of composition? d) Print two copies of the painting (it should be over 800x600 pixels in size): on one of them, draw the basic form of the composition. Bring all these parts to class on Wednesday September 23.
1b: Mission Nuestra Senora de la Concepcion
Read Mission Nuestra Senora de la Concepcion
Observations…- What symbols suggest Christianity?
- What design elements suggest the number 3?
- What do the colors symbolize?
Compare to Spanish (Spain) churches – Obradorio façade of Santiago de Compostela, etc.
- Why is the San Antonio mission so much simpler than the churches of Spain?
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Other examples, Spanish Missions in the US:
San José y San Miguel de Aguayo in San Antonio, TX
San Juan Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, CA
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San Xavier del Bac, Tucson, AZ
1a - Pottery and Baskets: c.1100–c.1960
Read Pottery and Baskets: c.1100–c.1960
Questions:
Anasazi cylinder jars:
- What do you think they could have been for?
- What could the patterns and motifs symbolize? Does this give us any clues about their usage?
Homework: draw a vessel for carrying/displaying/protecting a valued possession. What this possession is will be a secret, and then we’ll try to figure what these items are based on the vessel’s appearance and what we know about the person.
Questions:
Anasazi cylinder jars:
- What do you think they could have been for?
- What could the patterns and motifs symbolize? Does this give us any clues about their usage?
Louisa Keyser:
- What could the patterns and motifs symbolize?
Gullah rice basket
Baleen basketry, Karl Toolak:
- Is this a valid “traditional” craft since it was commissioned in the early 1900’s by a non-Native American? The birch bark basket on the right is the traditional basket craft of the Inupiat of Alaska.
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General Questions:
- What do skillfully formed and beautifully decorated functional items tell us about a culture? (Not completely consumed with survival, had time to develop and practice a craft and to teach it, enjoyed working with their hands…)
- Who do you think may have made these vessels? (Men, women, a particular community craftsperson, an elder?…)
- What natural materials from their environments did the artists and craftsmen use to create these functional containers?
- What is the benefit of baskets over ceramic jars? (for nomadic tribes, baskets are lighter and won’t shatter if dropped or bumped in transit…)
…of ceramic jars over baskets? (Ceramic jars might be better for keeping pests out, for carrying water…)
- Why do collectors prefer pottery that was signed by the artist? (Shows who made it, authenticity, art by a known artist may be more valuable than art by an anonymous one…)
- Why are these artifacts valuable today?
- Do you think the desires of the modern market have influenced those who practice and sell objects made by traditional techniques?
- What do skillfully formed and beautifully decorated functional items tell us about a culture? (Not completely consumed with survival, had time to develop and practice a craft and to teach it, enjoyed working with their hands…)
- Who do you think may have made these vessels? (Men, women, a particular community craftsperson, an elder?…)
- What natural materials from their environments did the artists and craftsmen use to create these functional containers?
- What is the benefit of baskets over ceramic jars? (for nomadic tribes, baskets are lighter and won’t shatter if dropped or bumped in transit…)
…of ceramic jars over baskets? (Ceramic jars might be better for keeping pests out, for carrying water…)
- Why do collectors prefer pottery that was signed by the artist? (Shows who made it, authenticity, art by a known artist may be more valuable than art by an anonymous one…)
- Why are these artifacts valuable today?
- Do you think the desires of the modern market have influenced those who practice and sell objects made by traditional techniques?
Useful resources:
Homework: draw a vessel for carrying/displaying/protecting a valued possession. What this possession is will be a secret, and then we’ll try to figure what these items are based on the vessel’s appearance and what we know about the person.
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