Sample Formal Analysis

This is what one analysis should look like. Note the use of comparison to works in Learning to Look at Paintings and incorporation of chapter content such as "orthogonals."

Giorgione, The Adoration of the Shepherds from Gospels Pg. 81 for Chapter 2: Space

In The Adoration of the Shepherds, Giorgione uses a variety of techniques to achieve spatial illusion. He utilizes single viewpoint two-point linear perspective to give the painting depth. The assumed orthogonals run from the center of the work where the shepherds are standing to two separate vanishing points. One of these vanishing points can be found on the horizon by the mountains to the far left, while the other occurs somewhere within the cave to the right. At first glance everything seems mathematically proportionate, but closer examination reveals that the figures in the middle ground do not appear to be consistent with the assumed orthogonals running through the work. Instead, they appear much smaller than they should when compared with the figures in the foreground. Adoration looks even less spatially convincing when compared to School of Athens on Pg. 34 of Learning to Look at Paintings, in which Raphael carefully represents the figures in different sizes corresponding to the geometrical organization of the painting.
In addition to this somewhat imperfect linear perspective, Giorgione also uses aerial perspective to convey depth. He does this by painting the houses, foliage, and mountains in far less detail than the subjects in the foreground, such as Mary's robe. He also uses cooler blues and greens in the background, which tend to recede from the viewer and contribute to the illusion of distance. This contrasts the reds and browns found in the foreground and middle ground which catch the viewer's eye and appear closer. Unlike Millet's The Gleaners on Page 44, Giorgione does not ignore the middle distance but instead calls our attention to it by placing structures and figures within it. The viewer's gaze begins on the figures in the foreground and drifts slowly back to the left through the middle ground and into the distance with the mountains and sky.

Remember, ask any and all questions you have and do your best work! Good luck!

Sincerely,
Mr. Clarke