Art History Guide

Animals played an extremely important role in medieval art. Animals played a very heavy symbolic role throughout the period in nearly every area. Animals still play an extremely large role in modern day art, but they seem to have taken on a more literal form in most cases. I have inserted a quote from the source below. You will also find various examples of animals in medieval art after the quote. Feel free to discuss any of the images or the topic in general in the comments section. Please enjoy.

Animals, both real and fantastic, occupied an important place in medieval art and thought. Artists readily employed animal motifs, along with foliate designs, as part of their decorative vocabulary. Early medieval jewelry, for instance, abounds with animal forms elongated and twisted into intricate patterns (Bow Brooch, 55.56; Round Box Brooch, 1992.59.1). Deluxe Bibles and gospel books often make use of animal designs to enliven the sacred text (Initial V from a Bible, 1999.364.2; Incipit Page to the Gospel of John, 38.171.2). Animal forms might be employed to imbue utilitarian objects with majesty (Lion Aquamanile, 1994.244) or even humor (Bowl with Fish, 2000.322).

Lion Aquamanile, ca. 1400
German; Made in Nuremberg
Latten alloy; 13 1/8 x 4 3/4 in. (33.3 x 12.1 cm)
The Cloisters Collection, 1994 (1994.244)

Brooch in the Form of a Bird of Prey, 500–600
Vendel; made in Scandinavia
Copper alloy with silver overlay; L. 2 3/8 in. (6 cm)
Purchase, Leon Levy and Shelby White Gift, Rogers Fund and funds from various donors, 1991 (1991.308)

The Attarouthi Treasure, 500–650
Byzantine; From Attarouthi, Syria
Silver and silver with gilding; varying dimensions
Purchase, Rogers Fund, and Henry J. and Drue E. Heinz Foundation, Norbert Schimmel and Lila Acheson Wallace Gifts, 1986 (1986.3.1-15)

Eucharistic Dove, ca. 1215–1235
French; Made in Limoges
Gilded copper with champlevé enamel; 7 1/2 x 8 1/16 in. (19 x 20.5 cm)
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917 (17.190.344)

Plaque with Agnus Dei and Four Evangelists, probably 9th century
German or North Italian
Ivory; 9 1/4 x 5 3/8 in. (23.5 x 13.7 cm)
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917 (17.190.38)

[Via Met Museum]

art, medieval, animals, symbolic, late antiquity, art history, world history

John Sims’ “The Proper Way to Hang a Confederate Flag,â€? created a frenzy of discussion back in March. At the time, I didn’t have a strong opinion one way or the other on the piece. I do believe that art should offend people from time to time. If a work of art sparks a discussion, then it was a success. Simply offending someone does not necessarily make something good art. At the same time, art that offends is not necessarily bad.

I do not think this particular piece will invoke the kind of rage we saw in 1989 with Dread Scott Tyler’s “What Is the Proper Way to Display a U.S. Flag?” Often, I feel as if people take quick offense to a piece they do not quite understand.

John Sims has to live with his decision to display work of this nature. He already lives with continual death threats from the Ku Klux Klan. If you offend those guys, you obviously did something right. I’d have to say that the primary purpose of art is to arouse emotions and social debate, which this piece had obviously accomplished.

John Sims, condederate flag, kkk, ku klux clan, art, offends

Smithsonian has offered some excellent vacation packages in the past and this is definitely one that I am interested in myself. If you have the money, and are interested in Italian Art, this is an excellent opportunity.

I haven’t had a chance to visit these sites since I was a kid traveling around Europe with my dad, but it’s definitely an interesting opportunity. Prices and departure dates for the trips are listed below. More information can be obtained from the Smithsonian site. I have also found some images of some of the art and locations you will find on this trip. Images located at the bottom.

Departure: May 19, 2007
Description Price
Price based on double occupancy $4,195
Supplement based on single occupancy $895

*Round-trip airfare (plus applicable taxes) starting from $839

Departure: September 29, 2007
Description Price
Price based on double occupancy $4,495
Supplement based on single occupancy $895

*Round-trip airfare (plus applicable taxes) starting from $839

Departure: November 24, 2007
Description Price
Price based on double occupancy $4,495
Supplement based on single occupancy $895

*Round-trip airfare (plus applicable taxes) starting from $839

Departure: May 17, 2008
Description Price
Price based on double occupancy $4,495
Supplement based on single occupancy $895

*Round-trip airfare (plus applicable taxes) starting from $839

Departure: September 27, 2008
Description Price
Price based on double occupancy $4,495
Supplement based on single occupancy $895

*Round-trip airfare (plus applicable taxes) starting from $839

[Via Art Treasures of Italy Tour]

Smithsonian, Italy, art, Florence, Sistine Chapel,

Online Videos by Veoh.com

Artist Salwa Arnous was born in “Jaffa Palestine” according to her bio and began painting during the Oslo Peace Accords. She has lived in the United States for 27 years. Her Palestinian art exhibit has ignited controversy with the local newspaper the San Antonio Express News, running a front page story claiming the exhibit was anti-semitic. This video is to show her work directly to the public, so they may interpret her art for themselves. The video includes an introduction by journalist Barbara Renaud Gonzalez.

Palestinian, art, artist, Salwa Arnous, Jaffa, painting, Oslo Peace Accords, anti-semetic, public, Barbara Gonzalez

Hey faithful Art History Guide readers. Kezins here with a little announcement. I just wanted to make you guys aware that we DO have an RSS Feed for your RSS needs! So click on the HUGE RSS Feed icon above to add Art History Guide to your favorite RSS program of choice. I personally use Firefox as my RSS application since it’s always opened anyways, but you can use any of your choice, as long as you get our RSS Feed.

Thanks BB over at 1PStart.com for coming up with this.

Art History Guide, RSS, feed, Kezins, art history, Firefox

Author: Olivia Hunt

Baroque appeared in Italy, and later was spread all over the Northern Europe. The Baroque period embraces roughly the time from 1600 to 1750. The word ‘Baroque’ denotes “incorrectly shaped pearl� in Portuguese, and in this meaning it best describes the different styles that are united under the Baroque heading. Caravaggio, Italian Baroque artist, is one of the most brilliant representatives of naturalism painting in the 17th century. His religious compositions address to the Counter Reformation liking for realism, austerity, and piety in art. Equally significant is his dramatic application of chiaroscuro - contrasting spaces of light and dark.

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Here’s an interesting short student film I cam across on the topic of “Artemus Temple at Ephesus”. Being a huge Star Wars nerd myself, I couldn’t avoid throwing this clip onto the site. I hope you enjoy.

[Via Greece]

Artemis, temple at ephesus, art history, short film, youtube, star wars, john williams

Written, Shot, Directed and Chopped by Ridwan Adhami
My first student film starring the very talented Louis DeMonte

www.ridzdesign.com
www.myspace.com/ridzdesign

Ridwan is a very talented director and photographer from Queens, N.Y. If you are on myspace, definitely add him and check out his work. You will find his portraits to be very unique with a special personal touch. You need to remember his name, because he might be the next big director to come out of NYC. He’s a great artist and a good friend.

[Via YouTube RidzDesign Channel]

Ridwan Adhami, short film, searching, photography, queens, new york, NYC, YouTube

One of my favorite modern artists is Patricia Chica. The best place to catch her is on myspace. Her page is www.myspace.com/patriciachica. Patricia is a creative video director, digital photographer, all around visual artist and a great person to match. She describes her style as “glam, retro, vintage, pinup, burlesque, artistic, punk, rock, goth, erotica, hardcore, underground and definitely provocative!!!” Be sure to keep an eye out for her latest project “Rockabilly 514″

Since my directorial debut in 1990, my motivation has been to blur the line between fine art and commercial work. In the past decade I have been involved with Montreal’s underground music scene as well as working professionally on various artistic projects that combine technology, alternative fashion and design and that always with a touch of sensual provocation. Driven by originality; I always try to push forward the creative boundaries of storytelling by focusing on innovative techniques for narration and daring post-production effects. However, my visual style is more than just poetic, as it is often described as gritty within a humanistic setting.

More images follow the break!

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Guy Debord, Carte de Paris avant 1957, 1957 Collage / paper : 26.4 x 27 cm Alice Debord © 2007 Alice Debord
Photo: Serge Veignant

The “Situationist International” is one of the least known art movements in history, yet was extremely influential. This was perhaps the last avant-garde movement of the 20th Century.

The Situationist International can be considered as the last avant-garde movement of the XXth century. Its revolutionary programme aimed at undermining the symbols of power and at fighting the expropriation of everyday life by the consumer society. Operating at the frontier of art and politics, situationism had a strong impact on the student uprisings of the 60s but its influence goes far beyond. It can be found in the punk culture or, today, in those who oppose globalism. The exhibition covers the 15 years of the movement, from its founding in 1957 to its dissolution in 1972, around the biography of its leading figure, Guy Debord, whose mythical and later film « In girum imus nocte et consumimur igni » (1978), works as a guid

“What does it matter to us what judgments may later be passed upon our obscure personalities? If we have seen fit to record the political differences that exist between the majority of the Commune and ourselves, this is not in order to apportion blame to the former and praise the latter. It is simply to ensure that, should the Commune be defeated, people will know that it was not what it has appeared to be up to now.” — Gustave Lefrancais addressing constituents, 20 May 1871, cited in Internationale Situationniste 12 (September 1969).

[Source Art Of The Day]

[Quote Source Not Bored]

art of the day, art history, situationist international, avant-garde, Debord