Discussion Topic: Virtual Michelangelo

Posted on April 1, 2012 by Sandra Cheng

Michelangelo painted the Sistine Ceiling in four years, 1508-1512.  Read below an excerpt of Michelangelo’s biography by Giorgio Vasari (1511-1574), the first art historian.  Visit the Sistine Chapel with the modern art historians of SmartHistory.org in Second Life, a virtual environment.  Vassar College recreated the Sistine Ceiling on their Second Life “campus”.  You don’t need to open an account to visit, instead watch SmartHistory’s video of Michelangelo’s work on the Sistine Ceiling.  I’ve added a video clip of sidewalk art based on Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam from the Sistine Ceiling.  What do you think of these virtual recreations of Michelangelo’s frescoes in the Sistine Chapel?  Why do you think these paintings are still significant for contemporary society?

Excerpt from Vasari’s biography of Michelangelo in Lives of the Artists
When the Pope was returned to Rome, Bramante (a friend of Raffaello’s, and therefore little a friend to Michael Angelo) tried to turn his mind from finishing his sepulchre, saying it was an evil augury and seemed like hastening his death to make his own grave; and he persuaded him that on Michael Angelo’s return he should set him to paint the ceiling of the chapel in the palace, in memory of Sixtus his uncle. For Bramante and Michael Angelo’s other rivals thought to draw him away from sculpture, in which they saw he was perfect, and make him produce less worthy works, not to be compared with Raffaello’s, knowing he had had no experience in painting in fresco. So when he was returned and proposed to the Pope to finish his tomb, he desired him instead to paint the ceiling of the chapel. Michael Angelo sought in every way to shift the load off his back, proposing Raffaello instead. But the more he excused himself, the more impetuous the Pope became. So seeing that his Holiness persevered, he resolved to do it, and the Pope ordered Bramante to make the scaffold. He made it hanging by ropes passed through holes in the ceiling, which when Michael Angelo saw, he asked Bramante how the holes were to be stopped up when the painting was finished. He answered, “We must think of that afterwards, but there is no other way.” So Michael Angelo knew that either Bramante was worth little or that he was no friend to him, and he went to the Pope and told him the scaffolding would not do. So he told him to do it his own way. He therefore ordered it to be made on supports, not touching the wall, and he gave to a poor carpenter who made it so many of the useless ropes that by the sale of them he obtained a dowry for one of his daughters.

Visit the Sistine Chapel in Second Life

Sidewalk version of Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam

Groups 4, 5, and 6: Please comment on a classmate’s post by Saturday, 4/21
Groups 1, 2, and 3: Please submit a post by Saturday, 4/21

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Discussion Topic: Masaccio’s Illusionism

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Sandra Cheng

Masaccio, Holy Trinity, c.1424-1427

With the help of his friend Filippo Brunelleschi, Masaccio is often identified as the first artist to apply theories of linear perspective to painting.  His perspectival masterpiece is the Holy Trinity in the church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence.  Watch the following podcasts produced by the National Gallery of Art on the use of perspective systems in the Renaissance and Masaccio’s Holy Trinity fresco.  Describe what effect you think Masaccio’s painting would have on a Renaissance viewer.

Introductory video on Renaissance perspective

Video on Masaccio’s Holy Trinity

(you can also download these podcasts from the NGA server in iTunes)

Groups 1, 2, and 3: Please submit a post by Saturday, 4/14
Groups 4, 5, and 6: Please comment on a classmate’s post by Saturday, 4/14

Why the long due date for these posts?  Spring Break is 4/6-14, so if you want to catch up on some posts, you can over the break.  I will post another topic next week too!

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The Focus of a Medieval Monastery

Posted on March 24, 2012 by Michael M.

From what I come to understand is that a Medieval monastery consisted of a regular round of worship, reading, and manual labor. Every day from beginning to ending with services in the monastery church. In addition to their attendance at church, the monks spent several hours in reading from the Bible, private prayer, and meditation. They worked hard with their hands, doing the necessary washing and cooking for the monastery, raising the necessary supplies of vegetables and grain, and performing all the other tasks required to maintain the monastery. The appeal was that a Medieval monastery was like a  library in a way. A Medieval monastery kept records of the most recalling events during that time and perhaps acted as guide of medieval history of the Middle Ages.

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A Medieval Monastery, the Plan of St. Gall

Posted on March 21, 2012 by rey1701

1- In the Middle Ages monks lived a life of constant obedience and respect for others but most of all, a life in the service of Christ. Upon being accepted as a member of a monastery they had to give up all traces of individualism and become part of a collective. They were not allowed personal possessions and had to adhere to a humble and controlled existence always under the watchful eye of an elder. Food (2 cooked dishes and bread) was for sustenance rather than for enjoyment and everyone got the same amount unless very young or frail, wine was allowed; meat was reserved for the weak and the sick. Fresh fruit and vegetables grown at the monastery were allowed when available, but in moderation. Everyone slept in assigned beds in common quarters, fully clothed, a candle burning all night and of course, an elder sleeping in the room. Even how they socialized was scrutinized.

2- The Plan of St. Gall lays out the grounds and structures in a logical fashion. The school, guest house and the cloister adjacent to the Cathedral building, and the scriptorium to the left of the sanctuary and altar; animals were kept away from the holiest part of the church, the altar.

3- For me the appeal is to re-discover the techniques used to work with stone and the tools needed to do the job. But most important, the workers would have to put aside all the new engineering principles we know today, and think of how to solve a problem with limited resources and the use of hand tools. Also, dressing the way people did at the time helps frame their mind in the Middle Ages and “become” a stone mason from that time.

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Happy St. Patrick’s Day via Google

Posted on March 17, 2012 by Sandra Cheng

Saturday’s Google Doodle celebrates St. Patrick’s Day, when everyone can be Irish for the day.   Please notice the medieval interlace patterns and the head wrapped around the vertical ornament on the second ‘o.’   It might remind you of the ‘rho-iota’ letters on the “Chi-rho-iota” Initial Page from the Book of Kells.  Indeed, the designer behind today’s Google Doodle drew her inspiration from the most famous of medieval manuscripts, the Book of Kells.

Read about the design of the St. Patrick’s Day Google Doodle

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Discussion Topic: A Medieval Monastery Rises in the 21st Century

Posted on March 11, 2012 by Sandra Cheng

This week you will explore a plan from the 9th century for a monastery. The St. Gall monastery plan incorporated a vision of an ideal monastic environment for monks who followed the Rule of St. Benedict. Consider the daily life of the monk in the middle ages. Read excerpts from the Rule of the Benedict to learn about what monks ate and drank, and how they slept. Then explore the plan of St. Gall, which was not built in the middle ages but now rises in Southern Germany. What do you find most interesting about the plan and the lives of medieval monks? What do you think is the appeal of constructing a medieval monastery in the 21st century?

Read excerpts from the Rule of St. Benedict here

Click here to explore a site on the Plan of St. Gall

Read a news article on the construction of the monastery in Germany

Groups 4, 5, and 6: Please submit posts by Saturday, 3/24
Groups 1, 2, and 3: Please comment on a classmate’s post by Saturday, 3/24

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Posted on March 10, 2012 by rey1701

Graffiti can convey a sense of history and art. In ancient times travelers would leave a mark of their visit on statues and other stone monuments for posterity. Hadrian, a Roman Emperor, did this on a statue at the entrance of the Valley of the Kings in Egypt to “commemorate” his visit. Graffiti can also convey a sense of history by its content. It can tell us how popular or unpopular something was at a given time in the past such as a war or a particular social trend. Graffiti was and still is seen by many as a nuisance and defacement of private or public property but it also has being elevated and recognized as real art.

As an example of graffiti as an art form we can cite Keith Haring’s works. He was inspired by graffiti art in NYC. The public first noticed his chalk drawing creations on the subways. His works, recognized as an art form made it to galleries, museums and he was also commissioned to create murals in several NYC buildings. He created wall murals in Melbourne, Australia and became friends with Andy Warhol who was the subject of several of Haring’s pieces. Wow!

So yes, I believe Graffiti is an art form.

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Group Member 1 Response on: Graffiti as History, Graffiti as Art

Posted on March 10, 2012 by Sandra Rodriguez

Graffiti has a sense of history because it paints a picture of a story. It can last for a long time or different people can add on to it or cover it up. I have seen amazing paintings students do on the cafeteria in high school, up to the walls behind the school, on the walls in art classrooms and on the stage as a backdrop for a show. I have seen spectacular graffiti paintings. It brings the area a sense of blast from the past. And it is sad when it gets painted over from years of being displayed. Without early graffiti we would not get to learn much about the past and be able to advance. Sometimes some of us do not have time to visit a museum and the only place to see handmade art is outside. I think graffiti is art, if you have ever checked out 5Pointz Aerosol Art Center in Queens it is an amazing place to visit, especially inside; the walls and stairs is covered up with graffiti. Unfortunately, I heard someone wants to close it down. It is a shame how some sees this place with no significance yet others travel from all over the world to come here to display their talent. Hopefully Barry McGee and Margaret Kilgallen can continue to show people that graffiti paintings can be a beautiful thing to see if it was done legally of course.

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Discussion Topic: Graffiti as History, Graffiti as Art

Posted on February 28, 2012 by Sandra Cheng

Graffiti has existed since ancient times and continues as an important form of creative expression today. Watch the following videos on contemporary artists Barry McGee (b. 1966) and Margaret Kilgallen (d. 2001) and the beginning of a clip on Roman Emperor Hadrian’s legacy for examples of early graffiti. Discuss how graffiti can convey a sense of history, and whether you think graffiti can be art.

Groups 1, 2, and 3: Please submit posts by Saturday, 3/9
Groups 4, 5, and 6: Please comment on a classmate’s post by Saturday, 3/9

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Discussion Topic: What’s the difference between Ancient Greek Masculinity and being a man today?

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Sandra Cheng

 

Polykleitos’ Doryphoros (c.450-440) is regarded as an example of the ideal Greek male. Read the famous funeral oration given during the Peloponnesian War by Pericles, leader of Athens. Highlight one trait of manliness in Pericles’ speech and discuss how the statue of the Doryphorus exemplifies this characteristic. Then compare this trait of the Greek ideal male to contemporary ideas of masculinity.

Read Pericles Funeral Speech here

Groups 4, 5, and 6: Please submit posts by Saturday, 2/25
Groups 1, 2, and 3: Please comment on a classmate’s post by Saturday, 2/25

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