Week 7 Video Reviews

1. Explain why you selected each of the FOUR videos you choose from the selection listed above.

I chose to watch the Velazquez and Albrecht Durer videos because I had not heard of either of these artists and was curious what they were all about. Rembrandt and Michelangelo were two very well known artists that I knew I would enjoy watching. Michelangelo’s drawings set side by side with his sculptures/paintings was amazing. It was very interesting seeing how his mind worked while designing his pieces. It was so interesting to see an artist try to copy his hatchwork and not be able to accomplish it.

2.For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

Velazquez Video

Velazquez was born in Seville in 1599 and in 1623 he was made the court painter for Phillip IV and chronicled the life of King Philip. He captured the movement, the light and air that was once there for only a moment in his works. Velazquez painted reality and painted it slowly. Many masterpieces took years for him to complete. He was a very educated painter and he spent two years studying Italian masters such as Michelangelo. Many of his works were influenced by other artist’s works and styles. Velazquez was an abstract painter who seemed to try to conform to reality. He used the feel of the landscape instead of an exact reproduction of it. His paintings seem to be void of movement, the objects and people seem to be getting ready to move. Buffoon paintings or Jester portraits of human freaks were painted capturing them in their real states, deformities and all. He gives them grace and beauty like giving gifts to a friend. Everything he painted was a reflection of his own being. Painting his friend (the sculptor) with little color, he had little interest in it. He painted few religious paintings, all were done on commission.

The Night Watch by Rembrandt

Amsterdam Civic Guardsmen are who were painted on a massive 11’x14’ canvas. It has been slashed with a knife, had acid placed on it and drenched in water. The Nights Watch is the greatest icon of the Dutch art culture. Group portraits were organized to paint those who served in the militia. Rembrandt did not follow traditional militia portraits, which typically would show all the men lined up in a row. He applied drama and let the people act and not just pose. Many of the figures were prosperous businessmen who paid Rembrandt for their portrait. His painting portrays action and movement. Because of the movement and dramatic use of light this work broke out from the other militia portraits. The group from the rear seems to follow the group in the foreground and. there are no stationary elements expressed in this painting. X-rays that were taken of this painting shows Rembrandt’s original plans and how it changed into the final work. There were figures that were added and that were not members of the company, a boy, musketeer and little girl. The girls presence seems to be magical, she is a focal point with her own light source. The rooster hanging from her belt is the symbol of the militia. In 1642 the Night Watch was finished. A shield was added 8 yrs later to give recognition to all who were portrayed. The Night Watch remained for 70 yrs until it was moved to a gallery. This painting was trimmed to fit into the gallery. This trimming lost some important meaning that the work initially had. During WWII the painting was moved 3 times to keep it safe. The painting saw more damage during peace time then it suffered during the war. A crazy school teacher carved it with a knife and the restoration was then documented on film. Restoration took 8 months to complete. In 1990 a man sprayed acid onto the painting and it had to be washed down with water to dilute the acid. The work was then restored again because the varnish was harmed.

Albrecht Durer: Image of a Master 1471-1528

His first work was completed at age13 and was apprenticed to his goldsmith father. Durer was interested in the process of aging. When he was 15 he apprenticed for a master painter. he was a craftsman and engraved many works. His bride was chosen for him when she was only 15 and who bore him no children. Durer was the first true landscape artist in Europe. He spent some time studying in Italy and painted many landscapes there. Venice influenced many of his works. He learned to create light and shadow using light brush strokes devoid of color. He searched for the secret of the perfect form. He returned to Nuremberg and was treated as a honored citizen. He was a member of the council of the city. His main income came from prints that he produced by woodcut. Many of his woodcuts portrayed religious depictions in support of Martin Luther. He was constantly learning styles which included perspective in his woodcuts and started working with copper engraving later in life.

The Drawings of Michelangelo

Many of his original drawings were destroyed by the artist himself because they show his hesitations and second thoughts. He was born in 1475 in Florence Italy. He was apprenticed to an artist at the young age of 12, named Ghirlandaio. Michelangelo denied being influenced by Ghirlandaio even though they sketched in similar styles. He did however teach himself to sculpt. His knowledge of the human form was amazing for the time, in 1501, David was carved out of marble. This was the first colossal marble sculpture to be carved in Italy since the time of antiquity. His poses took upon reality but with an abstract idealization of the human pose. His focus of artistic expression for 60 yrs was that of the male nude. In 1508 Michelangelo began the painting of the Sistine Chapel. There were many drawings that show his prep work for the ceiling panels. He was called to design the Medici family church of San Lorenzo. He did not finish the church, blank walls and unfinished sculptures were the result. In 1527, Medici were expelled from Florence, Michelangelo then stopped his work on the church. He was driven into hiding where he continued to work on personal pieces. His Christian faith was a driving force in his art. The Last Judgment commission was a great work that was done in Fresco. At this point he became aware of his own mortality. He created the crucifixion drawings which explored his feelings of hope and dread. Christ’s body is an example of what the male body would represent when returning to god.

2. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?

The videos seem to relate very well with the text. Michelangelo's drawings, Durer's religious background with Martin Luther, Rembrandt's Night Watch and Velazquez being influenced by Italy are all concepts that were related in the text.

3. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts?

I really enjoyed all the videos except for the one about Velazquez. This video seemed to just carry on forever and was very boring. The other three lent to the concept seeing is believing. Seeing the Nights Watch hung in the gallery really gave it some size comparison, it is such a huge painting. Seeing Michelangelo's drawings flipping back and fourth with his works was very interesting. I loved seeing how his sketches changed before the final work was completed. Looking at woodcuts that were done by Durer in his early years and comparing them to his masterpieces that he completed later in life was very interesting. Its nice to take anything that you read about and have a few videos to compare it to.The videos just seem to bring the concepts all together nicely.